Ready to break free from unrealistic New Year's resolutions and finally make lasting progress on your goals? Let's take a look at a brain-based approach to achieving your resolutions without burning out or resenting yourself. If the light inside you has gone out and you can’t seem to get it to spark again, the One Lock, One Key Illumination Session may be for you. It's a pilot offer with special pricing for the first 20 people who sign up here.   Want more tips? Check out 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! 

We're seeing out 2025 with Jocelyn Hastie, another favorite episode from this year, and well worth revisiting.  I'll be back with some fabulous all-new interviews in 2026!Original release date: May 21, 2025 --- 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.   If you’ve been tearing up when you encounter other people’s art because you’ve lost touch with your own, we should talk. 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.

Here's a holiday reminder: it's okay to do nothing while you're off work until the new year. And I hope you have a great time, whatever your holiday looks like! Original release date: May 31, 2023 --- It may sound counterintuitive, but doing nothing can be really good for you. (If you just felt your whole body relax at the mere thought, that's a sign!) I'll tell you why in this short episode. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Get the 6 Creative Beliefs that Are Screwing You Up, plus biweekly updates on what's going on in my world (including upcoming events) for free! I'd love to hear your feedback, questions, and experience with these ideas! Send me a note at fycuriosity.com, or contact me on Post.news, Spoutible, and Mastodon!

Because of the way the December holidays fall this year, I'm doing two Listen Again episodes this month, with two favorite episodes from this year. I hope you'll enjoy this interview with children's author and higher ed fundraiser Robert Constant, whether you're revisiting it or hearing it for the first time. Original release date: January 15, 2025 ----- 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.   Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.   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.    

In this week's pep talk episode, I talked about doing less so you can be more in the moment and create a holiday that feels the way you want it to feel. I've decided to create a weeklong quest to help you do exactly that, and I hope you'll join me.  We start on December 15, 2025, and it's free and open to everyone. Learn more and sign up here.

This message from last year might not just change your holiday, but also your whole life: 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!  

My guest today is Safiya Robinson, a storylistener, writer, and explorer of creativity. She is the author of two books and the host of the Writing Black Joy podcast, a space that celebrates the joyful narratives of Black creatives. Her work centers joy, authenticity, and the belief that creativity doesn’t need permission. In addition, she is a keen world traveller who uses her writing to explore her experiences and philosophy on life. Safiya and I talk about our perceptions of creativity, what writing does for us, how AI may be interfering with those benefits (and when it can be very useful), the power of putting your work out there, what we’ve both learned from choral singing, and more.   Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 04:07 Childhood experiences with writing, music, and letter writing. 08:11 Discovering creativity as an adult, redefining what creativity means. 12:13 Leaning into creativity, starting a blog at age 39. 16:23 Making space for creativity and keeping it alive. 20:25 The impact of AI on student creativity and writing. 24:08 Outsourcing creativity to AI and the value of writing. 28:08 AI and the creative process. 32:00 When AI is useful for cover letters but not for art. 36:02 The balance between making creativity accessible and keeping human uniqueness. 40:05 The origins of Writing Black Joy. 44:10 The courage required to share creative work publicly and its impact.   Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.   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.

Ever feel like your creative work has to be perfect every single time? In this episode of "Follow Your Curiosity," I share that elite athletes only succeed half the time—and why creative people should lower their expectations and embrace imperfection, too. Discover how shifting your mindset can help you get unstuck, trust the process, and keep going, even if you miss more "shots" than not. If you believe every project you start has to turn out well, this episode is for you. If watching your kids build a pillow fort makes you wonder where the heck that zany, wild, playful part of yourself went... the Stop Performing, Start Living Reset may be for you! It's a pilot offer with special pricing for the first 20 people who sign up. Contact me for more.

Every year at Thanksgiving and Christmas, I offer up my favorite episodes of the year. This year's Thanksgiving selection is my conversation with force of nature Lizzie Hopley. Enjoy! (Original release date: July 16, 2025) —Actress and writer Lizzie Hopley was born in Liverpool and trained at RADA. As anactress, she has worked for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Globe Theatre and recent screen work includes Black Doves and upcoming feature film Fackham Hall. As a writer, her radio sitcom Green won Pozzitive TV’s Funny Dot Comp 2021 and TV series Bloody Betty is currently in development. She has written and appeared in over 90 Big Finish audio adventures including Dark Shadows and Doctor Who, and her Doctor Who audio play The Curse of Lady Macbeth won the 2022 Scribe Award.Lizzie joins me to talk about how her childhood love of writing and acting became a vocation, auditioning for RADA—twice—and how she ended up continuing to write even as a drama student, how learning to think of acting and writing as having a target changed her work, and a whole lot more. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Lizzie Hopley shares her creative childhood and love for books.04:56 Acting out movie scenes alone sparked early passion for performance.08:45 Family encouraged storytelling, costumes, and imagination at home.13:11 Difficulties pursuing creative careers; importance of following passion.17:33 University and RADA experiences shaped her acting and writing path.22:24 Writing plays began due to lack of desired acting roles.27:29 Rewriting and feedback are crucial for improving both crafts.32:54 Learning to target audience while writing; acting versus writing focus.37:22 Acting training emphasizes focusing on scene partner, not yourself.43:48 Importance of editors and learning to kill your darlings.48:21 Confidence and caring less about others’ opinions increases with age.53:07 Acting and writing overlap at Big Finish; playing her own roles.57:16 Big Finish’s community impact, creative freedom, and professional development.01:02:18 Target books and early Doctor Who fandom as creative inspiration.01:07:04 Embrace varied interests; open doors for yourself in creativity. Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in writing, theatre, and Doctor Who.   If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend. 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’ve been tearing up when you encounter other people’s art because you’ve lost touch with your own, we should talk.  

What does it really mean to practice patience—especially when life, creativity, or even a home repair puts you to the test? In this episode, I share candid lessons both from a year of waiting and from my 30 Bad Poems in 30 Days challenge: the struggle to slow down, the urge to keep producing, and why patience might be the most creative tool you can cultivate right now. Whether you're wrestling with a stubborn project or just want inspiration for your own journey, this pep talk is for you.   If watching your kids build a pillow fort makes you wonder where the heck that zany, wild, playful part of yourself went...we should talk! Want more tips? Check out 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! 

Meg Hamand has had a heart for storytelling since her first poem was published in an anthology in elementary school. Since then, she’s been published in multiple print and online publications, and her debut novel is the award-winning Diamonds in Auschwitz, which simultaneously tells two stories of love, survival, and hope during World War II. Meg joins me to talk about the challenges of working with dark and difficult topics, such as taking care of yourself and navigating the line between too much and too little for your readers; plotting historical fiction, and how to do historical research. She also gives us a sneak peek into her next book, which is currently in progress. Episode breakdown: 00:00 30 Bad Poems in 30 Days; introduction. 04:42 Meg shares why she loves historical fiction and early writing inspiration. 09:03 Meg describes the origins and themes of Diamonds in Auschwitz. 14:00 Discussion of Terezin, visiting Holocaust sites, and historical accuracy. 18:38 Meg explains researching Terezin, children's art, and real accounts. 23:05 Talking about the heaviness of the subject and book’s emotional impact. 27:03 Exploring character contrasts, children’s resilience, and trauma responses. 32:10 Meg outlines her plotting process, changes during writing, and research. 36:35 Importance of Prague’s setting as character, changes during revision. 42:46 Meg details her next book: Post-Revolutionary Charleston and Shakespeare. 47:26 How classic literature influenced new novel structure and motivation. 51:36 Advice for historical research, blending fiction, and traveling to locations. Join me for 30 Bad Poems in 30 Days!   Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.   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.

So many of us struggle with procrastination. There are many causes of procrastination—fear of failure, fear of success, perfectionism, comparison, exhaustion, and overwhelm, just to name a few. We often need rest, but procrastination isn't the same--and tends to feed your inner critic, while eroding your motivation and productivity. If watching your kids build a pillow fort makes you wonder where the heck that zany, wild, playful part of yourself went...we should talk! Want more tips? Check out 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! 

Kelly Flanagan has been one of my favorite guests, and he'll be back to talk to us again in February. Here's his second appearance on Follow Your Curiosity, in case you missed it or want to revisit it. Please note that the book giveaway mentioned in the episode is no longer available. Original release date: November 9, 2022   ***   When I started this podcast in 2019, Dr. Kelly Flanagan was one of my inaugural guests, and his episode, “The Gifts of Creativity,” remains one of my favorites. Kelly has just published his first novel, The Unhiding of Elijah Campbell, and I wanted to talk to him about how that experience differed from writing nonfiction, and about the book itself. We delve into those questions and various subjects raised by the book, including how we look outside ourselves (and sometimes to our creative work) to find our worth, the value of letting out our wild sides, how the things we do for security often actually undermine us, and how Kelly sees the intersection of spirituality and creativity.  The book giveaway is no longer available. Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing and publishing! And you can find Kelly's first appearance on the podcast here. Check out the show notes at fycuriosity.com, and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! I also post on TikTok, and you can also listen on YouTube. 

Is multitasking real? Possible? It depends on your definition, but I'd rather talk about how the attempt affects us—why we feel so pushed to do it, and what's the price we pay? I'm sharing my thoughts in this short episode. If watching your kids build a pillow fort makes you wonder where the heck that zany, wild, playful part of yourself went...we should talk!   Want more tips? Check out 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! 

Tony Stewart has made award-winning films for college and universities, written acclaimed software, and now has written his first book. That book, Carrying the Tiger: Living with Cancer, Dying with Grace, Finding Joy while Grieving, tells the story of Tony and his late wife, painter Lynn Kotula, as they navigate her Stage IV cancer diagnosis, treatment, and hospice, and Tony’s journey out of grief. Tony joins me to talk about his original journey from writing to software development, how it felt to return to writing via CaringBridge after Lynn’s diagnosis, the process of writing Carrying the Tiger, the nature of grief, and more.  Episode breakdown: 00:00 Intro02:12 Introducing Tony Stewart03:02 Creative Childhood Experiences08:02 Shakespeare in the Park11:34 Understanding Filmmaking Client Needs17:48 Complex Problems Beyond Machine Solutions19:15 Joy of Reading Book Reviews24:58 Returning to Writing26:39 The Beginning of the Book29:29 Writing Addiction and Motivation32:40 Overview of the Book34:00 Writing in Present Tense38:38 Memoir as Thriller41:31 Structuring the Book42:24 Tony's Memories and Reflections45:51 Creating Realistic Characters48:27 Exploring Grief52:04 Anticipatory Grief56:58 Individuality of Grief Experiences Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.   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 can be one of the hardest things to convince ourselves to do when the voices of doubt, self-judgment, and perfectionism are up to their old tricks, but it really is important to take action, not just think about it. I'll tell you why—and how—in this short episode. If watching your kids build a pillow fort makes you wonder where the heck that zany, wild, playful part of yourself went...it's time to Make Bad Art. Doors are open now for a new cohort starting on October 14.  (Use code PODCAST101 for $100 off!)   Want more tips? Check out 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! 

Will Brooks is a freelance artist and designer who mostly works with licensed properties, especially Doctor Who. For five years, Will was the in-house ‘photo’ artist for Titan Comics’ Doctor Who ranges, providing more than 160 covers. He’s also produced artwork for Big Finish Productions and the Doctor Who Experience, and was the lead artist and designer for the second edition of Cubicle 7’s Doctor Who RPG, for which he also wrote material. Will joins me to talk about how he got his start with licensed artwork, the process of creating covers for Titan and Big Finish, the power of just doing something when nothing seems to be coming together creatively, helpful criticism vs. tearing folks’ work down,  the effects of leaving social media, and more.   If you’re tired of your inner critic running amok in your head and you're ready to confine it to quarters, Make Bad Art: Ditch Perfectionism and Have Fun Doing It starts on October 14!   Episode breakdown: 00:00 - Intro 01:10 - Creative Childhood 04:54 - Starting with Doctor Who Art 13:18 - Art School Lessons 15:34 - Art School Experience 19:14 - Impostor Syndrome Insights 24:54 - Beginning in Doctor Who Comics 30:14 - Comic Cover Creation 32:28 - Sources of Creativity 40:00 - Comic Cover Process 42:58 - Social Media Impact 47:10 - Importance of Consistency 50:26 - Facebook Manipulation 56:34 - Current Projects 59:57 - Conclusion Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in Doctor Who and visual arts. If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend. 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, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks!  

You've probably heard someone describe a performance as "electric," or "electrifying," and may even have used that term yourself. But how does that kind of performance happen, and what does it have to tell you about your creative practice? I'll tell you in this short episode. If watching your kids build a pillow fort makes you wonder where the heck that zany, wild, playful part of yourself went...it's time to Make Bad Art. Doors are open now for a new cohort starting on September 29. Want more tips? Check out 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! 

My guest this week is Richard Wilmore, the host and executive producer of the wildly successful daily talk and variety series Make Your Day Richer TV. From 2016 to 2022, he hosted the award-winning The Richard Wilmore Show. He also co-hosts the Wolf Media Fest podcast. Behind the scenes, Richard helps numerous podcasts and livestreams with production, editing, and talent booking needs through his company, Make Your Day Richer. Richard talks with me about how he found his calling as a talk show host, why you should start where you are with what you have, the challenges of making work for hire and turning your art into a business, the importance (and difficulties) of listening to yourself, and a lot more. Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 04:09 Supportive parents let Richard explore. 09:06 Young Richard pretended to be a weatherperson, then talk show host. 13:11 Performing as himself felt natural, but nerves still linger. 17:16 Richard describes building colorful sets to energize his shows. 22:18 Created talk show sets in basements, bedrooms, and studios. 27:04 Richard and Nancy reflect on starting shows with minimal gear. 32:44 Burnout can happen even doing what you love most. 37:15 Turning creativity into business poses unexpected challenges for artists. 41:21 Listening to your gut is crucial but not always easy. 46:29 Self-doubt and outside opinions complicate creative decisions and direction. 51:49 Guests surprise Richard; reaching out directly often leads to yes.   Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in writing and theatre.   If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend. 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, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks!

All those little things you think are weird about you? They're the things that make you unique. That make you stand out. It's time you embrace them instead of running from them. I'll tell you why in this short episode.   If you’re tired of waiting for “someday”—which is NOT a day of the week—to get unstuck and step toward your creative dream, we should talk. Want more tips? Check out 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!