Being a creative person is tough.
We want to make cool things, but then life hits us with insecurity, rejection, schedules, etc. How do we push past all the noise and make the things that light us up?
Welcome, Dear Listener, to a space where it's okay to ask questions and dive deep into the world of fear, creativity, and the roadblocks that get in the way of us busting forth with creativity energy. We're a couple of weirdos who want to talk about the hard things with you, so welcome to our living room--pull up a chair, cover up with a cozy blanket, and let's get started.
Honestly, Dear Listener is a weekly podcast hosted by Emily Hatch and Carrie Schaeffer.
Being a creative person is tough.
We want to make cool things, but then life hits us with insecurity, rejection, schedules, etc. How do we push past all the noise and make the things that light us up?
Welcome, Dear Listener, to a space where it's okay to ask questions and dive deep into the world of fear, creativity, and the roadblocks that get in the way of us busting forth with creativity energy. We're a couple of weirdos who want to talk about the hard things with you, so welcome to our living room--pull up a chair, cover up with a cozy blanket, and let's get started.
Honestly, Dear Listener is a weekly podcast hosted by Emily Hatch and Carrie Schaeffer.
📣 Big Fat Announcement! 📣
Starting Friday, April 18, Honestly, Dear Listener will be moving to a bi-weekly release schedule—that’s every other Friday instead of every single one.
Why? Because as much as we love creating this podcast, we’re also navigating real human schedules, creative projects, family life, grief, growth, and all the glorious mess in between. And we’re practicing what we preach: realistic expectations, nervous system kindness, and sustainable creativity.
So don’t worry—we’re not going anywhere. We’re just giving ourselves (and you) a little more breathing room. Same vibes, same chaos, slightly more spacious pacing.
Mark your calendars: New episodes every other Friday starting April 18. And in the meantime, hydrate, chase your side quests, and tell perfectionist pants-face to take a nap.
With love and fewer deadlines,
Carrie & Emily 🎙️💕
In this episode, we cover:
💥 Our Q1 goals—what we smashed (and what smashed us)
🎭 Emily’s dramatic arc from “first draft” to “I quit” to “wait… cabaret?”
🧠 Carrie’s ADHD brain vs. perfectionism vs. moving boxes
💌 Rediscovering old chapel notes and decoding middle school crushes (Jim Carrey?!)
🧩 Embracing misery, perfectionist parts, and nervous system meltdowns
🧘♀️ Shame spirals, grief, and asking your inner critic to please just shush for a minute
🛠️ Setting doable, measurable Q2 goals using a “12-week year” approach
🩰 Our goals for Q2 2025
✨ Why surviving might be the bravest goal of all
References:
• Ep 72: We’re All Biased. Now What?
• Ep 74: We’re All Out of Energy Coins
• Ep 75: Love Yourself, Asshole, and Other Mysteries
The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months - book by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington
Let’s Love Teeline Together - online Teeline shorthand resource Carrie uses
Piano Marvel - music piano sight-reading app Carrie uses
TIMECODES
0:00 - Intro
2:36 - Q1 Goals Rewind
31:20 - Q2 Goals Reset
40:19 - A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT!