Follow Your Curiosity

Here's a super-short story: something a friend said to me once that's stuck with me, and why I think it might help you keep some needed perspective on yourself and your creative efforts. If you've been tearing up when you encounter other people's art because you've lost touch with your own, we should talk. Want more tips? Check out with all my previous Creative Pep Talks in this playist! Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks!  If you'd like to stay up to date on things like my courses and also get podcast and event updates, and my latest musings, subscribe to The Spark! 

Jocelyn Hastie spent 30 years as an accountant before the combination of a stage 4 cancer diagnosis and a sudden job loss forced a radical turn, leading her to work full-time with horses as a way to foster leadership skills and personal growth. She joins me to talk about why it's not fair to judge accountancy as boring, how bad management and leadership happens (including her own realization that she was a bad manager), what we lose when we forget the lessons of the natural world and our roots in it, what we can learn from the animals around us—including horses—and more. Read about a lesson I learned from Jocelyn here. Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 04:25 Family influence suppressed creativity; art rediscovered after cancer diagnosis. 08:32 Jocelyn reflects on common misconceptions about accounting creativity. 12:39 Accountants add value, not just boring number crunchers. 16:32 Jocelyn's career choice influenced by her father and education. 20:06 Radical life change after cancer and job loss in 2016. 24:35 Horses revealed Jocelyn's management flaws; learned new leadership styles. 28:09 Importance of authenticity and boundaries, not pleasing everyone. 32:25 Animals and nature as teachers for leadership and mindfulness. 36:05 Jocelyn describes her non-riding retreats and somatic awareness. 40:34 Emphasizes intentional learning versus just-in-case learning. 44:05 Life shifts can come from crisis or noticing “little knocks.” 48:54 Childhood expectations shaped independence; cancer forced acceptance of help. 52:23 Lessons from herd dynamics and horses' instinct to regain calm. 56:07 Gestalt coaching emphasizes honoring emotions and shaking off fear.   Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend.

It's counterintuitive, but sometimes limitations are your best friend, especially when you're doing something creative. I explain why in this super-short episode. Listen to my conversation with Nick Morrison here. Want more tips? Check out with all my previous Creative Pep Talks in this playist! Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks!  If you'd like to stay up to date on things like my courses and also get podcast and event updates, and my latest musings, subscribe to The Spark! 

My guest today is Josh Mendoza, an award-winning filmmaker known for his post-apocalyptic feature film, What Still Remains. His debut novel, Shadow of the Eternal Watcher, which combines sci-if and film noir, was released in January. Josh joins me to talk about his start in creative writing and his move into film, the similarities and differences in writing fiction and film, the necessity of learning through failure, the democratization of creative pursuits like filmmaking, and more. Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 04:42 Family support fuels persistence in creative pursuits. 08:51 Emphasizing positivity over negativity in sharing creative feedback. 13:40 Unexpected audience reactions highlight creators' limited control. 16:25 Importance of not focusing on negative reviews or criticism. 20:14 Film structure rules help shape and tighten storytelling in novels. 24:05 Editing and trimming elevate both novels and screenplays significantly. 28:14 Books become lasting physical achievements compared to shelved scripts. 32:07 Movie-making demands flexibility and compromise with real-world constraints. 36:02 Intellectual property's role in getting projects greenlighted discussed. 39:56 Technology enables democratization, but creates challenges in standing out. 44:02 Bad creative work is necessary learning for improved future art. 48:13 Letting characters shape the story often leads to authenticity. 52:10 Duster Raines, Josh's protagonist, is both flawed and compelling. 55:38 Genre mashups and series building.   Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend.  

Building on my conversation with Amber Petty last week: I look at how and why you should celebrate your accomplishments in this short episode. Want more tips? Check out with all my previous Creative Pep Talks in this playist! Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks!  If you'd like to stay up to date on things like my courses and also get podcast and event updates, and my latest musings, subscribe to The Spark! 

Amber Petty helps creatives get bylines and build audiences. She's written for the New York Times, Parade, Bustle, and others, and her clients have been published in outlets like the New Yorker, Washington Post, New York Times and many more. Amber talks with me about how she moved from teaching singing to teaching freelancing, how easy it is to downplay our accomplishments when we really should give ourselves credit for them, how to take feedback, and more. Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction. 01:56 Losing job led to full-time freelancing and shift in focus. 03:45 Pandemic inspired helping performers explore alternative side gigs. 05:06 Initial workshop success revealed a real demand for guidance. 06:42 Freelance writing felt more natural and sustainable than voice lessons. 08:32 Previous failures provided valuable lessons for current business success. 11:03 Business doesn't have to feel hard to be worthwhile. 12:43 Take the easy path—hard enough already for perfectionists. 14:18 Writing doesn't always need to be grueling or tortured. 15:58 Feedback is easier when you're getting paid as a freelancer. 18:26 Editors focus on fitting articles, not judging your talent. 22:33 Read editorial feedback in a friendly, not critical, voice. 24:09 Creatives often undervalue or dismiss their legitimate achievements. 28:39 Small victories matter—acknowledge courage to pitch and publish. 33:48 Freelancing provided more satisfaction and momentum than acting. 36:57 Diverse backgrounds enrich your approach to writing and teaching. 40:33 Theater and improv help with webinars, workshops, and engagement.   Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend.

This might be the most functionally important pep talk ever—and you may even know it already! It bears repeating, though, and I tell you why in this super-short episode. Want more tips? Check out with all my previous Creative Pep Talks in this playist! Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks!  If you'd like to stay up to date on things like my courses and also get podcast and event updates, and my latest musings, subscribe to The Spark! 

Andrew Darlow is a New Jersey-based photographer, inventor, author, and digital workflow coach. For over 25 years he has helped people preserve, protect and back up their irreplaceable photos, videos and other digital files. His photography, tips and reviews have appeared in many publications and media outlets, including: People magazine, Animal Planet, Reader's Digest and Professional Photographer Magazine. He is the author of four award-winning books, including his newest book: Focus and Filter. Andrew talks with me about what drew him to photography, what we lost and gained in the shift to digital photography, the improvements in phone cameras in recent years, how best to preserve your photos—and weed out the junk—and more. Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 01:22 Creativity explored in childhood, grandparents encouraged art. 03:57 Transition from drawing on walls to discovering photography. 05:30 Fascination with darkroom photography and its magic. 07:00 Different methods in darkroom, use of contact printing. 10:00 Engagement with photography, schools in Washington D.C. 11:27 Shift from film to digital, instant access vs. patience. 14:41 Improvement in phone cameras, use for scanning documents. 15:59 Loss of thoughtful consideration with digital photography. 19:16 Exploration of aperture and shutter priority. 21:39 Impact of phone cameras on traditional photography. 23:44 Usefulness of phone photography courses. 24:25 Concept of the best camera being the one with you. 26:11 Ethical considerations in photography, respecting subjects. 28:06 Dangers of distractions, selfies, and phone use. 30:01 Tips for safely backing up digital images. 34:06 Managing and organizing digital photo collections. 38:12 Strategies for dealing with physical photo preservation. 40:27 Importance of online backup services like Backblaze. 43:39 Overview of local and cloud backup solutions. 47:31 Andrew's upcoming projects, including course platform. 51:19 Insight into unique, personalized photography prints.   Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend.

What's your truth? Do you know? You might not—we're often not taught how to tell what's true for us, and instead, we're told what should be true for us. So why should we care, and how do we find out? I'll give you some suggestions in this short episode. Want more tips? Check out with all my previous Creative Pep Talks in this playlist! Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks!  If you'd like to stay up to date on things like my courses and also get podcast and event updates, and my latest musings, subscribe to The Spark!

Amy L. Bernstein is a multi-genre novelist, award-winning journalist, speechwriter, playwright, poet, and nonfiction book coach. Her new book is Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears, Finding Inspiration. Amy teaches a variety of writing workshops and is a frequent guest on podcasts to discuss writing, publishing, and creativity. Amy joins me to talk about the difference between writing for hire and writing for yourself, the pros and cons of MFA programs, how deadlines can work for or against us, the universality of self-doubt and how it keeps us stuck, and a lot more. Episode breakdown:   00:00 Introduction 01:14 Creative childhood and family influence. 02:14 Societal expectations and practicality pressures. 06:13 Navigating challenging career paths and personal fulfillment. 09:44 Shift from writing for others to personal projects. 14:25 Distinction between work and personal writing. 18:29 Importance of passion and creative drive. 21:37 Challenges of balancing work and creative pursuits. 25:43 Creativity hindered by productivity culture. 26:58 Thinking as part of the creative process. 31:09 Using local settings in novels and plays. 33:03 Introduction to Wrangling the Doubt Monster. 36:17 Universal nature of self-doubt in creativity. 44:06 Utilizing deadlines in different contexts. 48:39 Self-criticism and perfectionism in creativity. 50:55 The impact of upbringing on creative work. 54:35 Amy's current projects and book coaching.   Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend.

Sometimes we don't act on ideas because we're convinced we can't sustain them long-term. Here's why you should take a chance—and how taking the leap on creative pep talks worked out for me.

My guest today is Wendi Gordon, a mental and spiritual health writer, speaker, and coach. Wendi writes for various digital media outlets, including her own “Changing Lives” newsletter, where she shares her mental and spiritual health struggles and the resources and practices that have helped her change her life to help others change theirs. Wendi talks with me about how she chose to become a pastor, the art of writing in a church environment, including having a weekly prompt and having to deliver the product to a live audience; how sermon writing has influenced her current writing; her surprise decision to move to Maui from Pennsylvania and why she moved to Texas; what she's learned from spending time in nature, and a lot more. Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction to Wendi Gordon and her work in mental and spiritual health. 01:18 Wendi's early creative experiences and the influence of writing in her life. 02:42 The creativity involved in being a pastor and related social work. 03:56 Journey to becoming a pastor inspired by a mentor. 06:22 Life-changing move from Pennsylvania to Maui and experiences in Hawaii. 08:21 Return to pastoral work and the impact of the pandemic on her career. 10:45 Facing political and denominational challenges in the church. 14:37 Transition from pastoral work to freelance writing and coaching. 17:18 The process of writing sermons and the influence of the church lectionary. 20:16 Facing public speaking and feedback as a pastor. 22:53 Unexpected reactions to sermons and dealing with feedback. 25:49 The creative process in freelancing and article pitching. 28:32 Bringing personal struggles into writing and helping others. 32:04 Addressing mental and spiritual health. 36:41 The intertwining of mental health with societal and political realities. 39:17 Sharing personal experiences to connect and help others. 42:14 Deconstruction and leaving behind harmful religious beliefs. 44:13 Viewing creativity as a spiritual experience. 47:27 Influence of nature and photography on creativity. 51:20 Spiritual and collective experiences at Bruce Springsteen concerts. 54:11 Impact of travel and different cultures on creativity. 57:04 Digital detox and the importance of being present in nature. 58:44 Encouragement to engage with nature and stillness.   Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend.  

Why should you start trusting yourself, and how do you start doing it more? I answer these questions in this super short episode. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks! If you'd like to stay up to date on things like my courses and also get podcast and event updates, and my latest musings, subscribe to The Spark!

Jennae Cecelia is a best-selling author and poet known for her poetry books, Uncaged Wallflower, The Sun Will Rise and So Will We, and Healing for No One But Me. Her mission as an author is to comfort and encourage people. In addition to writing, she is focused on helping other authors learn how to successfully put their writing out into the world. Jennae joins me to talk about how she got her start with poetry, including her family's reaction to the idea of poetry as a career; the unexpected experience of having a viral self-published poetry book; how she helps other authors master the art of self-publishing; what it's like writing custom poetry for others, and more. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 01:10 Jennae discusses her childhood imagination and family influences 03:55 Role models and seeing creativity as a realistic pursuit 05:16 Leaning into creativity after early publishing success 08:07 Family reactions to pursuing poetry as a career 10:49 Reflecting on misconceptions about job security and risks 13:39 Jennae's self-publishing strategies and viral book success 16:56 Building momentum with multiple books and Amazon rankings 20:36 The importance of poetry in paperback form 22:38 Impacts of viral success on her perspective and career 26:14 Jennae's writing process, journey from simplicity to detail 30:07 Finding readers through specificity in poetry 33:00 Advice for authors and importance of perseverance 37:34 Managing perfectionism in writing and publishing 40:49 Custom poetry projects and their meaningful connections 45:56 Emotional experiences writing for others, from weddings to memorials 49:12 Deciding to traditionally publish for broader reach and goals 55:09 Reflecting on the challenges and anticipation of traditional publishing Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend.

I'm just back from this year's Gallifrey One Doctor Who convention, and it's reminded me of the importance of being brave. How? Why? I'll tell you in this short episode. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks! If you'd like to stay up to date on things like my courses and also get podcast and event updates, and my latest musings, subscribe to The Spark!

Horror author Mark Morris has written and edited around fifty novels, novellas, short story collections and anthologies. His script work includes audio dramas for Doctor Who and a Doctor Who spinoff series, Jago & Litefoot, and the Hammer Chillers series. His most recent work includes a new novel, That Which Stands Outside, and a 30th anniversary short story collection, Warts And All. Mark's work has won numerous awards, including two British Fantasy Awards, and two New York Festival Radio Awards. Mark talks with me about how he got his start as an author, being welcomed into the horror writing community, the differences between writing his own novels and working on tie-in fiction for franchises like Doctor Who, Spartacus, and Predator, making the switch to writing audio scripts, and more. You'll hear us talking about one of the stars of the Jago & Litefoot series, Christopher Benjamin. Christopher Benjamin was beloved among Doctor Who fans for his portrayal of Henry Gordon Jago, and one of the few actors to appear in not only the classic series but in the new series as well. His 70-year career spanned stage, radio, television, and film, including shows like The Saint, The Forsyte Saga, and the 1995 Pride and Prejudice miniseries. Christopher Benjamin passed away at the age of 90 on January 10, 2025, and I'd like to dedicate this episode to his memory. Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 02:01 Creative childhood and early storytelling. 04:55 Transition from history degree to writing career. 06:45 Determination to succeed. 12:09 Success with first novel, "Toady," and publicity. 20:29 Encouragement from horror writing community. 31:35 Writing tie-in fiction for Doctor Who and others. 39:22 Challenges of tight deadlines and research. 40:58 Insights into writing and editing processes. 44:17 Novelization of "Wild Blue Yonder" Doctor Who special. 46:25 Transition to writing for audio and challenges. 54:38 Upcoming projects and advice for young writers. 56:48 Emphasis on persistence and not turning down opportunities.   Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend.    

It's incredibly counterintuitive, and can even be difficult, but one of the most important things you can do when the world is falling apart is have fun. I explain why in this super short episode. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks! If you'd like to stay up to date on things like my courses and also get podcast and event updates, subscribe to The Spark!

Photographer and author Autumn Carolynn's relationship with wanderlust started early in her life, with a semester abroad in England. From there, she's held a variety of travel-related positions, including flight attendant and travel agent, and all of them have allowed her to pursue photography around the globe. During the pandemic, she combined her photography with her travel stories, and the result is “Traveling in Wonder: A Photographer's Tales of Wanderlust,” which encourages readers to embrace exploration and life's everyday challenges. Autumn joins me to talk about the surprising gut instinct that changed the direction of her life, the realities of life as a flight attendant (including the wide range of life skills required for and learned on the job), the importance of traveling now rather than putting it off for retirement, and how she sees the intersection between travel and creativity. If you're looking for inspiration to buy that plane ticket, this is it! Episode breakdown:  00:00 Introduction 05:15 The alchemy of photo development 09:59 13 countries in 13 weeks 12:53 Secretive travels shared via Facebook 14:57 Exploring global fast food menus 18:13 Lost in Budapest 23:14 Gut feeling cancels Australia trip 25:44 Intense flight attendant training 29:34 Moving abroad: Not so simple 31:57 Adventure in Australia 38:10 Handling in-flight medical emergencies 41:53 "Traveling in Wonder" book release 43:28 Building a creative art business 47:20 Capturing memories for mom 50:05 Seize opportunities while able 55:48 Embrace new experiences   Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend.  

When there are a lot of things you could work on, which one do you choose? My answer is always the same, and very simple, though it's not always obvious or easy to follow thanks to the way a lot of us are taught: follow your energy! I explain why—and why ignoring the call of that energy can undermine us over time—in this short episode. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks! If you'd like to stay up to date on things like my courses and also get podcast and event updates, subscribe to The Spark!

Robert Constant works in higher education fundraising by day, but his side passion is writing children's books. He is the published author of two children's books, Hey Tuskegee! and Hello Grandma!, both of which have spent time on Amazon's bestsellers lists for their category. Robert talks with me about how your creative dream may change your life—and it may change someone else's, too; that you don't have enough energy because you're not doing your creativity, not the other way around; and the fact that it has never been easier for most people to follow their creative dreams than it is right now. Join us for Make Bad Art starting on January 20 and get 2025 off to a fresh creative start! Details at MakeBadArtCourse.com.  Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 01:18 Dreaming of creating, jazz club inspiration. 09:56 University licensed book for bookstore sale. 14:19 Inspiring Tuskegee history: educate, inspire, acknowledge excellence. 17:27 Positive Tuskegee spirit highlighted through historic pride. 24:25 Writing a book changed my life positively. 31:40 Experiencing book signing events feels surreal. 33:39 Signed a book for an appreciative fan. 38:39 The singular experience of seeing your book for the first time. 46:06 City buzz inspires thoughts on future books. 51:13 Fight for self-control and personal ownership. 56:02 The value of finding the way that works for you. Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend.    

I recently sat down with my dear friend, author Cindy Lynn Speer, to talk about perfectionism and how it seeps into us through the culture in insidious ways we don't even recognize—and how it affects us in similarly sneaky ways. We also talked about how making bad art can help us undo those lessons and free us from the voices of the inner critics that have been installed in our heads so we can loosen up, create more freely and have more fun in our lives. Join us for Make Bad Art starting on January 20 and get 2025 off to a fresh creative start! Details at https://MakeBadArtCourse.com. If you have questions about the course, please contact me. I'd love to talk to you!   Episode breakdown: 00:00 Start small, don't aim too high initially. 05:02 Start simple, avoid over-investing initially. 07:01 Embrace imperfection to enhance creativity flow. 10:32 Wanted to teach creative writing, but couldn't. 13:53 Creative writing facilitates easier, less perfectionistic writing. 20:30 Overcome self-judgment to embrace innate creativity. 23:25 Teaching unpredictably affects students, clarifying perfectionism vision. 27:30 Enjoying life more through sustainable art practice. 31:24 Struggled with structuring topics; needed adjustments. 34:34 Create bad art, prioritize interaction and questions. 36:45 Exercises allow personal interpretation and creativity. 40:32 Comparison and perfectionism constrain us from childhood. 45:56 Creativity suppressed; rediscover joy through art. 50:05 Contact me with questions about this transformative course. 52:03 Creativity course helps with self-kindness and communication.   Join us for Make Bad Art starting on January 20 and get 2025 off to a fresh creative start! Details at https://MakeBadArtCourse.com.

What if the question of your creativity is more about how you define the term than whether or not you have any? I explain in this short episode. The second round of my Make Bad Art course starts on January 20! If you think you might be defining yourself out of your creativity, MBA is a great place to recalibrate that definition and come home to yourself. We had a fabulous time time in the first round, with moments of creative insight and inspiration all over the place! Learn more and sign up here. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks! If you'd like to stay up to date on things like my courses and also get podcast and event updates, subscribe to The Spark! 

Les Watson's passion for and expertise in self-management and productivity comes from over 30 years of experience as a trainer, speaker, facilitator, and coach in self-management, motivation, and communication. He is the author of Get Back An Hour In Every Day and facilitates the acclaimed Creating Success Program. Les talks with me about identifying your tendency and how it can cause trouble as you manage your time; how parents can take care of themselves first even in a busy household to make sure they get to their creativity; why deadlines are magic, not a medieval torture device; the keys to getting an hour of your time back every day, and more. I hope this conversation gets your New Year's creativity resolutions off to a great start. Join us for Make Bad Art starting on January 20 and get 2025 off to a fresh creative start! Details at MakeBadArtCourse.com.  Episode breakdown: 00:00 Les Watson discusses self-management, productivity, and creativity. 05:35 What do you want and commit to? 08:51 Keeping self-appointments is as important as others. 12:17 It's easier to prioritize others over yourself. 15:44 Prioritize self-care first, like oxygen masks. 18:13 Setting boundaries for personal time with kids. 22:55 Clarify priorities to focus efforts effectively. 25:57 Incompletions persist, haunting and overwhelming thoughts. 28:57 Organize goals efficiently with a single system. 31:16 Deadlines motivated MFA completion, ensured timely submissions. 34:03 Get accountability buddy for art exhibition preparation. 39:41 Maximize return on investment using minimal effort. 42:25 Start big picture, identify steps, take action. 46:31 What do you want? Sacrifice for creativity. 50:13 Planning creates personal time and builds self-trust. 51:22 Write goals down to stay focused and organized. 55:38 Capture fleeting ideas before they vanish forever. Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend.    

Every so often, do something the old-fashioned way. I'll tell you why (and how I came to this discovery) in this short episode. Make Bad Art returns on January 20, 2025! Join us to ditch perfectionism, get out of your own way, create more, and have more fun doing it. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! I'd love to hear your feedback, questions, and experience with these ideas! Send me a note at fycuriosity.com, or contact me on BlueSky!

Hi, everyone! I'm thrilled to bring you my annual Christmas replay. This is not just one of my favorite episodes of the year—it's one of my favorite episodes of all time. If you haven't heard it before, you're in for a treat. If you heard it at the beginning of the year, I promise it's worth a second listen. Either way, enjoy! Tim Myers does a bit of everything: he's a writer, songwriter, storyteller, visual artist, and senior lecturer at Santa Clara University, where he teaches writing. We got together to talk about the nature of creativity, which Tim calls a “sacred mystery,” including everything from the way our childhood creativity is changed by the culture as we become adults, the necessary role of play in the creative process, the transcendent experiences of awe and wonder and how they fuel us, the wisdom of following your gut, and a whole lot more. Episode breakdown: 01:39 Kids are instantly creative, often play traditionally. 06:50 Creativity influenced by nature, nurture, educators. 15:50 Importance of creativity in education and society. 21:22 Differences between play in childhood versus "professional" adults. 24:56 Nancy switched to teaching, advisor, and writing lit mag. 30:49 Encouraging exploration of language and creative thinking. 37:04 Parents see child, lifetime of giving love. 40:35 Zen story about finding wonder in life. 45:27 Believing in progress through challenging circumstances. 50:34 Art, festivals, play as a primal need. 56:21 Semantic split between "religion" and "spirituality." 01:01:14 Falling in love based on unique personal idiosyncrasies. 01:07:23 Experimenting with writing schedule structure. 01:13:45 Craft is in choosing words for impact. 01:19:22 Writers and feedback. 01:25:00 Tim struggles with generalist vs specialist identity. 01:26:31 Passion for storytelling and visual art emerges. 01:35:38 Weekly writing schedule reduces overthinking and focus on perfection.   Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode and in it, tell us how play influences your creative process. If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend. Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.

If you feel like you've lost the joy in the holiday season, you may be overlooking the very simple secret to finding it. I explain how to reclaim it in this short episode (spoiler: it applies to more than just the holidays!). Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks! The first round of my Make Bad Art course is underway and we are having a fabulous time, with moments of creative insight all over the place! If you'd like to know when I'm offering it again—which I will be in January—the best way to find out is to subscribe to my free creative community, The Spark! https://fycuriosity.substack.com

My guests today are Lisa McMullin and Alfie Shaw, both of whom write for Big Finish Productions, creators of audio dramas ranging from established series like Doctor Who, Sherlock Holmes, and Dark Shadows to original dramas featuring the Air Transport Auxiliary from World War II and Marcus Tullius Cicero in Ancient Rome. Lisa started her career as a drama teacher before moving into dramatic writing—she's written for TV series like Death in Paradise and the Sister Boniface Mysteries as well—and Alfie, who is also a producer for Big Finish, dabbled in stand-up comedy. We talk about Big Finish's apparently magical ability to redeem characters—including villains—who were less than beloved, the challenges and opportunities of recasting familiar characters, the way Big Finish finds new writers (including the best ways to do that), what the writing process looks like for an audio series, and a lot more. While there's a lot of Doctor Who in this conversation, there's also a lot of insight into the creative process, too. We apologize for being a bit vague about particular stories so as not to spoil them for those who haven't heard them. Here's my conversation with Lisa McMullin and Alfie Shaw. Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 01:39 Lisa's creative childhood 09:22 Alfie's early passion for stand-up. 11:03 Alfie worked at BBC before Big Finish. 21:10 Lisa met writers, felt impostor syndrome, networked successfully. 23:19 Mixed interests: Paul McGann, river, Big Finish's "Survivors." 27:46 Amused student challenges English class symbolism interpretations. 34:57 AI affects creativity more than expected. 42:27 Exploring creativity within set formats is valuable. 44:13 Big Finish enhances characters like Sixth Doctor, Daleks. 50:54 Varied reactions to piece on religion, conversion. 57:04 Balancing new ideas and classic elements creatively. 59:44 Paul Spragg entries processed anonymously for judging panel selection. 01:05:56 Balancing established and new talent in writing. 01:14:58 Audio parallels theater through character-driven dialogue. 01:21:24 Recast Doctors' strength: unique, non-traditional portrayals. 01:23:24 Continuously innovate and explore new creative possibilities. 01:28:25 Eleventh Doctor and Jacob Dudman. Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend. Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in Doctor Who and writing.  

For Thanksgiving, here's one of my favorite pep talks of the year: one that especially bears a second listen. Enjoy! Do you give yourself credit for your creativity? A lot of us don't, including people you wouldn't expect. You really should recognize your own creativity regularly—I'll explain why in this short episode. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Please leave a review, and in it, tell us how you recognize your creativity—or how you'd like to. Join my free creative community, The Spark! We celebrate each other's creative courage, and I'll be sharing programs for subscribers and listeners there in the coming months.

My annual Thanksgiving replay is early this year because Thanksgiving is so late! But I'm thrilled to offer up one of my favorite interviews of the year—my conversation with Dominic Glynn, where we get to learn all about Dominic's journey through music for film and television, and get a behind the scenes look at just how our favorite movies and shows get the musical treatment that makes them come to life. If you haven't heard this interview before, I'm confident you'll enjoy it, and if you have, it's absolutely worth a second listen. -- My guest this week is Dominic Glynn, a prolific composer for film and television. Dominic got his start working on Doctor Who, and has provided music for titles as diverse as Red Dwarf and The Simpsons. Dominic tells me how his career began in the mid-80s as a self-taught musician, how incidental music works, what it's like to write for an orchestra, and more.  Read this week's article, on why you should make bad art, here. Want to Reignite Your Creative Spark? Contact me here. Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction. 04:55 Member of band transitioned to solo career. 06:25 In the 80s, got obsessed with affordable synthesizers. 10:22 Confidently sought job with Doctor Who in 1984. 13:24 Affordable technology enabled music production from home. 18:27 Editing music reel with time-coded leader tape. 22:00 Working on music synchronization for VHS episodes. 24:50 Luck played a part in minimal changes. 27:40 Excessive music in TV/films can ruin impact. 30:31 Music can enhance storytelling in low-budget productions. 32:41 Cartoon character's appearance affected by budget constraints. 35:50 Electronic music lover disappointed in orchestral shift. 41:31 Doctor Who's evolution from theater to cinema. 44:00 Creating music similar to popular soundtracks for music libraries. 45:29 Unexpectedly finding music in beloved TV shows. 51:06 Creating music that emulates the 50s-60s hits. 54:24 Composer entrusts scoring to orchestra, marvels at musicians' skill.   Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute. If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend. Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in Doctor Who and music.

When the world is falling apart around you, it's not just okay to take care of yourself—it's necessary. I'll tell you why in this short episode. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks! The first round of my Make Bad Art course is underway and we are having a fabulous time, with moments of creative insight all over the place! If you'd like to know when I'm offering it again—which I will be in January—the best way to find out is to subscribe to my free creative community, The Spark! https://fycuriosity.substack.com

Freelance writer Amy Weinland Daughters mostly wrote about college football until she decided to try her hand at, in her words, “a hilarious time travel novel.” That novel, You Cannot Mess This Up: A True Story That Never Happened, turned out to be a catharsis, giving her a whole new look at her childhood and her family. It's gone on to win the Silver Winner for Humor in the 2019 Foreword INDIES and the Overall Winner for Humor/Comedy in the 2020 Next Generation Indie Award. Amy and I talk about the experience of writing about sports as a woman, what happens when a creative project becomes “real,” the importance of supporting each other's creative dreams, even if they seem a little crazy, and just how she re-constituted Thanksgiving weekend 1978, and her whole family from an adult point of view, in her book. Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 01:22 Always creative, imaginative childhood eventually inspired writing. 09:27 Support networks vital for achieving difficult careers. 10:42 Creative doubt and imposter syndrome affect identity. 18:23 Creating requires empathy; art preferences are subjective. 21:14 Believe in yourself; push to create magic. 27:52 Unexpectedly transformative journey, beyond initial intentions. 36:41 Book evoked nostalgia, laughter, and personal reflection. 38:59 Embraced younger self, now proud and united. 45:44 Memories change with age and perspective. 52:18 Nostalgic, relatable, thought-provoking, humorously realistic moments. 53:12 Misunderstood as sci-fi; divided reader opinions. 59:29 People share personal childhood stories with Amy. Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend. Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.

Story lover Lucinda Sage-Midgorden and I met here on Follow Your Curiosity last year. We got together this past week for a short conversation for her Patreon about why you should think about making bad art and embracing anti-perfectionism. What does that mean (and not mean), and how might it change your life? For that matter, how are we defining perfectionism—it's often not what we expect it to be (as I learned myself when I was training as a Kaizen-Muse coach, to my great shock and, yes, horror!). Lucinda was kind enough to share the recording of our conversation with me, and I want to share it with you. If you've been wondering if my Make Bad Art course is for you, you might find the answer here—for instance: whether you need to be an artist to make bad art, and if there's a right way to make bad art (spoiler: no, and no). This conversation is short, but you'll get a lot out of it. Make Bad Art starts on November 4th (the day after this episode is being released), but it's not too late to sign up, and we'd love to have you. All the details and signup info are here. Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 01:23 Kaizen-Muse coach helping creatives break perfectionism. 05:43 Realizing hidden perfectionism hinders creative projects. 09:05 Creating bad art frees creativity for good art. 10:54 Next class starts November 4; contact details provided. 14:03 Anti-perfectionism practice: Easier and fun in groups. 18:56 Need to relax and overcome perfectionism daily. 21:51 Join "Make Bad Art" starting November 4th. Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend.

What happens when you make bad art? Sometimes you get really good art by accident! Here's a real-life story of a time when that happened to Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat, and why you should consider Making Bad Art yourself. Source for this story. Want to come Make Bad Art of your own, and lose perfectionism and harsh self-judgment in the process? Join us starting November 4, 2024! You don't have to be an artist, and you can't fail at bad art (unless you don't do it at all). I promise!    

Four years ago, artist and art therapist Darcy Wade joined me to talk about her own journey with art and creativity, including how her  discovery of expressive arts brought her back from a period of disconnection with her creative side and helped her recovery from addiction. Darcy has since moved from North Carolina to Colorado, where she's now undertaking fundraising efforts to help folks back home in the wake of the destruction from Hurricane Helene. She talks to me about the history and artistic culture of Western North Carolina—particularly Asheville, but also the surrounding area; the creativity, ingenuity, and community that arises from crisis; her journey from North Carolina to Colorado; how awe and wonder elevate our lives, and more. You'll find links to our previous conversation and Darcy's fundraiser in the show notes, and I hope you'll check them out. If you missed my first conversation with Darcy in 2020, you can check it out here. Full show notes, including photos of Darcy's beautiful art, can be found here. Read this week's post, My Perfectionism Story, here. Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 01:18 Resigned dream job, faced challenges. 07:24 Art and creativity integral in daily life. 13:37 Art project raised $7,000 for North Carolina. 17:09 Stuck in Denver due to licensure requirements. 25:32 Artists help Asheville mountain communities with essentials. 31:25 Nature-based expressive arts; paused for now. 34:13 Pass exam for new job in youth. 39:12 Expressive arts therapy empowers diverse artistic expression. 44:54 Children's fresh perspectives inspire and move me. 48:37 Redefining "bad" art: Challenging traditional definitions. 56:00 Embrace sensitivity; curiosity fuels personal growth. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend. Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in visual arts.

I recently had a chance to get a very different perspective on something I dearly love doing—by not doing it. I thought it would be torture. I was wrong. I tell you what I discovered in this short episode. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! My Make Bad Art course starts on November 4! Are you tired of contorting yourself to meet others' expectations? Do you want to remember your own wild, imperfect self? And reclaim your curious, adventurous, creative genius inner kid? Make Bad Art is the anti-MBA, a safe place to come unlearn all those things you're taught you have to have as an "adult" (stress, perfection, conformity) so you can reclaim the inner wild, curious, creative kid who's always been inside you--the one who knows how to play, invent, have fun, and live with abandon and joy. It's a playground for the liberation of your inner artist AND your authentic self, and the effects will go beyond the class container. Check out all the details at https://fyc.quest/MBA I hope you'll join us!

My guest this week is Dr. David Weill, the former director of the Center for Advanced Lung Disease and Lung and Heart-Lung Transplant Program at Stanford University Medical Center. He's currently the principal of the Weill Consulting Group, which focuses on improving the delivery of pulmonary, ICU, and transplant care. He's also the author of the new novel, All That Really Matters, which follows his memoir, Exhale: Hope, Healing, and a Life in Transplant. David talks with me about how he made the shift from surgery into writing, how healthcare workers have historically been encouraged to deny the emotional reality of their work as a defense mechanism, and how that is finally shifting; the harsh and sometimes cruel realities of the transplant world; how fiction allows greater latitude in telling the truth about those realities; why transplant patients often like to go sky diving after their surgeries; and more. Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 01:31 Transplant professional documented experiences, produced two books. 05:19 Hid emotions in career, later embraced vulnerability. 06:53 Health care work strains minds, career change needed. 12:14 Interesting emotional arc, unwise career decision impacts protagonist. 16:51 Medicine's learning curve: years of motivating terror. 18:01 Mentor's patient admiration influenced his demeanor. 22:32 Some should leave jobs earlier, unlike most. 26:47 Healthcare struggles balancing patient care and profitability. 29:34 Moral injury from value misalignment in healthcare. 31:57 Left clinical role; now consulting for solutions. 36:49 Saving young lives is my most memorable work. 40:27 Enjoyed writing fiction; eager to continue exploring. 42:31 Organ allocation ethics and financial incentives examined. 45:40 Talented, flawed protagonist falls and redeems self. 50:55 Next book explores questions of identity. Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend. Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.

In Western culture, we don't often think of creativity as something controlled, but the truth is, there's a place for chaos and control in our creative process. In this slightly-longer-than-usual pep talk, I give a couple examples of the push-pull of chaos and control, and how they can both be helpful—and detrimental—to our creative work, and why it's worth experimenting with a little more of one if you're used to working primarily with the other. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks! I'm currently in the home stretch of putting together my upcoming Make Bad Art group program, which will be starting in about a month. Make Bad Art is the anti-MBA, a safe place to come unlearn all those things you're taught you have to have as an "adult" (stress, perfection, conformity) so you can reclaim the inner wild, curious, creative kid who's always been inside you±the one who knows how to play, invent, have fun, and live with abandon and joy. It's a playground for the liberation of your inner artist AND your authentic self, and the effects will go beyond the class container. I'll be posting more very soon at my newsletter, The Spark, so subscribe to get the details as soon as they're available! We'd love to have you! 

Paul Pape is an artist, designer, and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in the creative industry. He's created thousands of personalized products for clients worldwide as well as companies such as Disney, Universal, and Nickelodeon. In recent years, he's shifted to empowering creatives, companies and corporations, sharing his expertise and insights to help them embrace innovation, reverse the creativity crisis and make life and work FUN again. Paul talks with me about failure as something necessary to innovation—not something you did wrong; what we've learned from the pandemic, and what we've refused to learn; and the technological pandemic of boredom and doomscrolling, and what we can do to find inspiration outside of screens and devices (spoiler: it involves PLAY). Read this week's post, "Letting Go and Finding Flow," here.  Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 01:18 Intro to Paul's creative and educational journey. 06:21 Disillusioned artist seeks better opportunities after MFA. 11:25 Thrive on process and problem-solving, not outcomes. 18:44 Creativity crisis: Innovation decline due to pressure. 23:16 Ownership fosters pride and individuality in work. 26:53 Uninterrupted work and flexible schedule were beneficial. 35:38 Short-term thinking limits long-term business growth. 38:48 Engage audience; leave wanting them to play. 44:03 Focus on interests, continually learn, and yield. 48:00 Prioritizing profits over addressing boredom and technology. 55:31 Encourage creative play with devices over mindlessness. 58:38 Hope: Augmented reality enhances life's immediate engagement. Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!!) AND SEE PAUL'S NERD WALL IN HIS PHOTO at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend. Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in education and theatre.

In August, I talked about reading War and Peace over the course of this year at a pace of roughly one chapter a day—the value of small steps in practice. Since then, I've noticed a little more about what happens to your project—and to you—when you take those consistent small steps, and I'm here to tell you about it in this short episode. Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks! Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!

When you hear the words “children's chorus,” you probably think of a pretty straightforward group of kids making music. If you're in Wilmington, Delaware, you have good reason to think of a whole lot more. Wilmington Children's Chorus Executive Director Lianna Magerr and Artistic Director Kimberly Doucette join me to talk about how they've gone beyond the rehearsal room to create an organization that reaches more than 500 kids in the Wilmington area, many from low-income neighborhoods, with the goal of empowering young people to change their world through music. Read this week's post, "How to Stop Being Your Own Creative Enemy," here: https://fyc.quest/enemy Episode breakdown: 00:00 Lianna's and Kimberly's creative background. 10:18 Lianna wanted to teach; followed passion through choir. 14:37 WCC evolves to meet ever-changing community needs. 17:55 Pioneered safe in-person singing during COVID-19. 27:35 COVID disrupted children's conflict resolution skill development. 31:13 Neighborhood choir program for underserved communities launched successfully. 39:02 Inclusive environment helps kids try new activities. 43:20 Early childhood music boosts development but requires resources. 47:40 Community centers essential for low-income neighborhoods. 51:15 Families support children's chorus through donations, trust. 59:56 Identify community needs and provide unique contributions. 01:01:56 Collaborative spirit and community connections in Wilmington. 01:06:52 Wilmington Children's Chorus 20th anniversary post-COVID concert   Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend. Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in theatre.  

This week's talk is a look back to an episode from 2021. It's a more lighthearted look at things that get in our way, riffing off a great story from Zander and Zander's book The Art of Possibility. Maybe you, too, would benefit from remembering Rule Number Six? I'd love to hear your feedback, questions, and experience with these ideas! Send me a note at fycuriosity.com, or contact me on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! I also post pretty regularly on TikTok.

Gary Russell has done a bit of everything in media, from acting when he was young to writing fanzines to writing for Doctor Who Magazine to working for the BBC to co-founding Big Finish Productions, which produces a variety of audio dramas for various TV series including Doctor Who, The Prisoner, Dark Shadows, and more. Gary and I talk about his journey from one opportunity to the next as a “professional fan,” including how he's made the decision both to take and to leave various positions, why he's always run his life on instinct, and why he thinks it's absolutely vital to be able to admit when you don't know what you're doing (even when it means baptism by fire), the value of freelancing—why he wouldn't have it any other way—and a lot more. I really think you'll get a lot out of my conversation with Gary Russell, even if you've never seen an episode of Doctor Who.  Episode breakdown: 00:00 Early desire to be a stuntman leads to acting classes/jobs. 08:56 Other kids at school unimpressed by acting jobsl. 11:35 Switching out of acting. 20:34 People are conditioned not to admit ignorance. 26:28 Recognizing natural endings and embracing them rather than holding on too long. 29:40 Facing uncertainty. 33:30 Embrace new experiences, live a fulfilling life. 36:12 Doctor Who fanzines/freelancing lead to running Doctor Who Magazine. 46:23 Input from others shaped Gary's core philosophy. 50:14 Warriors of the Deep: Script is good, but the execution is fatally flawed. 58:15 Ignore negativity, focus on what's important. 01:04:28 The birth of Big Finish Productions. 01:14:32 Moving to the BBC to work on Doctor Who. 01:23:37 Pension provides security, but Gary will never stop working. 01:27:24 Advice for anyone interested in freelancing. Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode and in it, tell us about a time when you took a leap of faith. If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend. Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in Doctor Who.

Simple, but not always easy: the key to progress or success is just to keep going. I'll tell you why in this short episode. Simon Haisell's year-long War and Peace read can be found here. Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks! Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!

Actor, activist, musician, and artist Michael Broussard joined me back in 2021 to talk about his one-man show, Ask a Sex Abuse Survivor, and what he's learned about destigmatizing trauma abuse through art. A few months ago, he mentioned to me that he's been focusing on pulling the rug out from under himself artistically. He's back today to talk about just what that means and how it's actually been influencing his work all along, and his upcoming game show project. We talk about game shows over the years, improv skills—that ability to accept and adapt in the moment—as integral to art and to life, how we are each an experiential filter for creativity, the importance of creativity as self-care, and more.  Get tickets for Michael's game show here. If you'd like to be a contestant, send 3 interesting things about yourself to michaelbroussardarts@gmail.com    Read this week's post: Mucking about in the creek, here. Listen to Michael's earlier episode here. Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 01:11 Embracing surprises in performance adds excitement. 05:15 Creativity is influenced by internal and external factors. 10:32 Panelist embraces chaos, hosts semi-controlled game shows. 15:51 Influences shape individuality and creative process uniquely. 27:09 Repetition in performance can lead to boredom. 33:02 Understanding the challenge of listening and relating. 34:21 Benefits of good listening. 41:20 Improvisation and humor on the Match Game. 45:55 Zoom shows make audience feel ownership, enjoyment. 52:29 We're trained to be passive, but need agency. 57:40 Denying ourselves what we love limits life. 01:04:50 Art is subjective; worth exploring and learning. 01:07:29 Story inspired by Disney; teacher encouragement.   Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend. Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in theatre.  

Sometimes your creativity can be like a clogged pipe. I'll give you one way to keep it flowing in this short episode. Sign up for one of this month's Unconventional Inspiration Circles here, and invite a friend!   Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks! Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!

Journalist Warren Berger, who has written for publications such as the New York Times, Wired magazine, and Fast Company, has a question for you. In fact, he has a lot. He's literally written the book on questions (three of them, to be exact), and recently updated his book, A MORE BEAUTIFUL QUESTION, for its tenth anniversary. Warren joins me to talk about why questions are important—even more important than answers. We get into why kids stop asking questions, just what a “beautiful” question is, how Google and AI have changed the way we question, why questions are better than advice, and more. And Warren has some suggestions for those who want to start asking better questions, too. Episode breakdown and transcript will be added in a few days--sorry for the delay!   Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend. Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.

Sometimes life, and the world around us, gets to be too much. I hereby give you permission to take a break when that happens. Sign up for one of this month's Unconventional Inspiration Circles here, and invite a friend!   Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks! Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!

Judith Turner-Yamamoto, an award-winning author hailing from a mill town in rural North Carolina, began her writing journey as an art historian, learning to appraise and describe what moved her. Her debut novel LOVING THE DEAD AND GONE, a Mariel Hemingway Book Club pick, is the 2023 Independent Publisher Book Awards Gold Medalist in Southern Regional Fiction and was shortlisted for the 2023 Eric Hoffer Book Awards Grand Prize and awarded an honorable mention in General Fiction. Her writing assignments have taken her all over the world and include interviews with luminaries such as Frank Gehry, Annie Leibovitz, Marcel Wanders, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Judith talks with me about the importance of deciding who to listen to, how nothing is ever wasted, how revisiting your work over a period of decades brings new perspective to it, and more—we may even have figured out why some people are predisposed to be plotters and some fly by the seat of their pants. There's a lot of wisdom here for writers in particular, but it certainly applies in other fields as well.    Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 04:10 Library books became salvation in my youth. 09:07 Analyzing art criticism and photography exhibition experiences. 10:48 Curated exhibitions, managed processes, positioned for director. 14:08 Psychic's advice led to successful PR career. 20:09 Structured writing involves quoting experts, evoking places. 23:03 Discovery: Plotters focus on plot, pantsers on journey. 25:35 Friend writes crime mystery, minimal world-building, character depth. 30:12 Patience in revising manuscript based on feedback. 33:12 New York Times: essential for writing inspiration. 35:23 Grieving and death shape personal and literary journey. 38:38 Reading challenge due to overthinking and editing. 43:10 Being selective and positive to avoid negativity. 44:49 Editor resists removing crucial elements from book. 47:50 Endure publishing industry rejection, stay true. Successful. 50:34 Praise for a book with unresolved plot. 55:14 Striving for perfection in book pitching process.   Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend. Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.  

A lot of creative work happens in solitude, but it doesn't have to be that way. Community can be one of your greatest creative tools--I explain why in this short episode, and issue an invitation as well! Sign up for one of this month's Creative Community sessions here, and invite a friend!   Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks! Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!

My guest this week is Steve Cole, a bestselling children's author of more than 200 books.  Those books cover many styles and children's genres, with titles including the Astrosaurs and Young Bond ranges, Go to Sleep or I Let Loose the Leopard, and most recently, Drowning in my Bedroom. Steve is also the creative consultant for BBC Books' Doctor Who list, as well as project editing and writing titles. Steve and I talk about how TV influenced him as a child, beginning his career in editing, how he moved into writing—and how his editing background influences his writing—and more. Read this week's post, The World is Your Creative Fuel, here.   Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 01:56 Creative child, loved words, invented imaginative worlds. 05:24 Teacher encouraged imaginative storytelling. 07:39 Writing became unexpected career path. 10:43 Fascination with Incredible Hulk, from production to details. 15:05 Influential writer Enid Blyton's office and typewriter. 16:59 Published short poems on aliens in space. 22:35 Manage 22 novels, videos, audios, and more for BBC Doctor Who range. 25:18 Transitioned from editing to writing children's books. 29:53 Managing editor at Ladybird, facing challenges. 32:13 Writing books on various popular children's shows. 36:48 Pitch: "Star Trek with dinosaurs. Instant publisher interest." 40:21 Authors be clever, editors be wise. 41:57 Juggling edits for US and UK publishers. 47:38 Doctor Who authors now pursue other endeavors. 50:06 Editing for renowned authors was thrilling and intimidating.   Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend. Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in Doctor Who and writing.  

Too often, in our creative lives (and everywhere else), we think we have to go it alone. It's okay, though, to ask for help, and I tell you why in this short episode.   Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks! Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Read this week's post: Get in Trouble   If you'd like to: Engage with your creative dreams with ease and joy Feel both more confident in yourself and your work, and more vibrant than you have in years Take time each day to do the things that light you up Feel the freedom of following your own inner guidance and the delight that comes with creative activity Book a free 30-minute coaching call with me! Here's what we'll do: You'll tell me about your creative dreams  We'll look at what's getting in the way If you're someone I can help, and we both want to... ...I'll share more about the Reignite Your Creative Spark program