Our concept of "normal" can be one of the biggest creative obstacles we face (and the same is often true outside the creative process). And in one particular case, it's just plain wrong anyway. I'll tell you why in this short episode. The link I promised: Writing Begins with Forgiveness . Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my Creative Pep Talk episodes. Get the 6 Creative Beliefs that Are Screwing You Up , plus biweekly updates on what's going on in my world (including upcoming events) ...
Jan 25, 2023•8 min•Ep. 166
My guest today is Michael Hearns, a veteran law enforcement officer whose experience includes working undercover with Miami’s vice, intelligence, and narcotics unit—yes, like Miami Vice —and has also worked as a technical consultant on a variety of movies and tv shows. These days, Michael is the author of the Cade Taylor police thrillers, including Trust No One. We talk about his law enforcement career, how realistic police shows (including Miami Vice) actually are, and his dedication to authent...
Jan 18, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 165
We all know resolutions don't work, or at best, don't work for long. So what does? I'll tell you in this short episode. Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my Creative Pep Talk episodes 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 and Mastodon !...
Jan 11, 2023•6 min•Ep. 164
Award-winning poet, performer, playwright, and educator Maria James-Thiaw has published several books of poetry and founded the Reclaim Artist Collective, which seeks to to raise consciousness about social justice issues impacting marginalized communities through its arts-based, anti-racist curriculum. Her latest collection, Count Each Breath , examines her experiences as a Black woman in the American healthcare system. Maria joins me today to have the conversation we floated when she first came...
Jan 04, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 163
Who's your best creative rival? The answer might be closer than you think. Inspired by Simon Sinek's video called "Worthy Rivals." Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my Creative Pep Talk episodes 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 , Twitter , or TikTok ....
Dec 28, 2022•7 min•Ep. 162
It's absolutely critical for all of us to find our people—especially the people who share and understand our creative calling. In this short-but-sweet episode, I'll tell you why. Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my Creative Pep Talk episodes 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 , Twitter , or TikTok ....
Dec 14, 2022•4 min•Ep. 160
Lowry Olafson knew from a young age that he wanted to be a musician, and like so many other aspiring musicians, had to figure out how to make it work—and he did: he has released nine albums and performed around the world. He is also the founder and creator of PowerSongs—deeply meaningful, personal songs for a wide range of individuals and groups—and PowerSongs Pro, for businesses and other organizations. Lowry talks with me about the moment that changed his perspective on his musical prospects, ...
Dec 07, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 159
Last week, Dr. Kelly Flanagan and I talked about getting back to what's wild in us. Here's how doing that can help your creative process (and your whole life). Please leave a review for this episode, and in it, tell us about a time when you let your wild come out to play. Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my Creative Pep Talk episodes.
Nov 16, 2022•11 min•Ep. 156
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) ...
Nov 09, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 155
So how do you keep yourself "doing it anyway"? It helps to talk back to the naysaying voices in your head. It helps even more if you know what you're going to say in advance. Please leave a review for this episode, and in it, tell us what your favorite comeback is. If you're working on a writing project, for NaNoWriMo or not, you're invited to join me for the NaNoWriMo Power Hour on November 13th! Get some writing done with fellow writers right when you're most likely to hit a motivational slump...
Nov 02, 2022•8 min•Ep. 154
Not quite two years ago, writer John Roedel, author of the Hey God, Hey John poems that have gone viral online (and the collection of the same name) joined me to talk about how he ended up “talking to God” and what he’s learned from that experience. (If you haven’t heard it, you’ll want to check it out.) I asked John to come back and tell us how he’s shifted into helping people discover their true selves and write authentically from the heart. John and I talk about everything from the way improv...
Oct 26, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 153
Is whatever's holding you back from your creative call really enough reason to give up? Not likely. Here's why you really should do it anyway. Ben Folds agrees with me: take a listen . What are the six biggest creative beliefs that are screwing up your process? Find out here ! I'd love to hear your feedback, questions, and experience with these ideas! Send me a note at fycuriosity.com , or contact me on Instagram or Twitter !...
Oct 19, 2022•6 min•Ep. 152
My guest this week is Tom Colgan, editorial director at Berkley Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Tom has spent more than 35 years championing such authors as Tom Clancy, Mark Graeney, and Janet Evanovich. We talk about how he got his start as an editor, what editors do and don’t do (you may be surprised!), how the creative process is different for everyone, and why, despite coming up with many ideas for books, he doesn’t dream of writing one. He also has some advice for aspiring author...
Oct 12, 2022•8 min•Ep. 151
If you've been waiting to feel motivated to do your creative work, you may be surprised to learn that you're actually doing things backwards. (If you haven't listened to the Pep Talk about "Five Minutes," I suggest you listen to it in conjunction with this one!) Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Get stuff DONE at my free Creative Check-In/Parallel Universe Time session. Learn more and register here . Feeling stuck in your creative process? Or wonder...
Oct 05, 2022•8 min•Ep. 150
It’s no secret that a lot of creative people absolutely love doing their creative work, but seize up at the idea of selling it. I invited Annie P. Ruggles, also known simply as Annie P., to the podcast to share why selling doesn’t have to be evil, and how to get around our fears and worries involving selling creative work. Annie, a former theater kid, now runs the Non-Sleazy Sales Academy, which aims to help those of us who are marketing and sales averse get our work into the world in an ethical...
Sep 28, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 149
Once you've wrangled with the truth, what do you DO with it? (Spoiler: don't ignore it.) Please leave a review and in it, tell us about a time when you listened to your wisdom! Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Get stuff DONE at my free Creative Check-In/Parallel Universe Time session. Learn more and register here . Feeling stuck in your creative process? Or wondering how to start having a creative process at all? Check out my super-affordable Creat...
Sep 21, 2022•11 min•Ep. 148
Hillary Webb describes herself as a cultural anthropologist, author, and mixed-media storyteller with a focus on theater anthropology and cross-cultural perspectives on human consciousness. It’s a mix that covers a lot of territory, both literally and figuratively. Hillary has traveled the world for research on shamanism and consciousness, and has even managed to stumble into the world of stand-up comedy in Berlin. We talk about Western ideas of individualism and how they influence our ideas of ...
Sep 14, 2022•58 min•Ep. 147
Do you recognize and respect the truth? Or is your relationship with it a little different? Spoiler: It may not be what you think it is! Please leave a review and in it, tell us about a time when you realized you were trying to outwit the truth! Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Get stuff DONE at my free Creative Check-In/Parallel Universe Time session. Learn more and register here . Feeling stuck in your creative process? Or wondering how to start ...
Sep 07, 2022•9 min•Ep. 146
Linda King caught the travel bug at an early age. She also grew up in a family of writers. After working in the travel and banking industries—and discovering that there was an appetite for her travel advice—she started The Smart Travelista: a website and series of travel books to help people travel wisely and save money doing it. Linda tells me more about that journey and about her more recent foray into creative nonfiction, and also offers some travel tips and a pep talk for anyone who needs a ...
Aug 17, 2022•52 min•Ep. 143
A pep talk AND an invitation: How Parallel Universe Time can help you get past procrastination and get things done. If you're intrigued, you're invited to join us for scheduled PUT sessions that will help you make progress and energize your creative process. Register here for the Zoom link and to be kept informed of new PUT session times. Questions? Contact me at nancy@fycuriosity.com Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!...
Aug 12, 2022•6 min•Ep. 142
What if I told you your creative blocks are totally normal? There's nothing wrong with you. Please leave a review and in it, tell us about a time when you realized you were actually totally normal, and how that felt! Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Get stuff DONE at my free Creative Check-In/Parallel Universe Time session. Learn more and register here . Feeling stuck in your creative process? Or wondering how to start having a creative process at ...
Aug 10, 2022•8 min•Ep. 141
Gael Wood started her career as a massage therapist, opening her own day spa and eventually starting her own online business. While that business has taken different forms throughout the years, she’s always found a creative groove in what she does, be it through creating the perfect spa ambience, writing her own marketing materials, or authoring her own books. Along the way, she’s also out together large telesummits and business mastermind groups. Gael talks with me about her experiences in all ...
Aug 03, 2022•55 min•Ep. 140
Why you might want to be open to the possibility of being wildly wrong (or even just slightly wrong) about everything from your new creative project to interpersonal dynamics. Please leave a review and in it, tell us about a time when you were wrong and it turned out well anyway! Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Get stuff DONE at my free Creative Check-In/Parallel Universe Time session. Register here . Feeling stuck in your creative process? Or won...
Jul 27, 2022•7 min•Ep. 139
When the Covid pandemic started, all of us had to find new ways to keep busy. Shanti Hershenson, who was 12 at the time, decided to start taking writing seriously. Now 14, Shanti has not only written a remarkable 15 books, she’s done the work to self-publish and get those books into several independent bookstores. Shanti talks with me about why she didn’t tell anyone she had started writing, how her friends and family reacted, and how the young adult dystopian genre has shaped how young people s...
Jul 20, 2022•54 min•Ep. 138
If you're not doing what you want to do because you think you're not ready or don't have what you need, might I very gently and lovingly suggest that you're wrong? Please leave a review and in it, let us know what YOU are starting, from right where you are! Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Get stuff DONE at my free Creative Check-In/Parallel Universe Time session. Register here . Feeling stuck in your creative process? Or wondering how to start hav...
Jul 13, 2022•8 min•Ep. 137
My guest this week is actor Colin Spaull, who began acting as a child and is still going strong. His early appearances include the role of Pip in Great Expectations and Peter in Heidi , and since then he’s been in everything from Coronation Street to Doctor Who . Colin talks with me about acting school, why he prefers theatre to television, his experience on The Murder Game , which had no script, and what it’s like to encounter the Cybermen close up on Doctor Who —and a lot more. One correction:...
Jul 06, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 136
What can you do in five minutes? A LOT more than you think. Don't believe me? Let me explain--and then give it a try yourself! Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Get stuff DONE at my free Creative Check-In/Parallel Universe Time session. Register here . Join us for my monthly Gratitude and Wonder call (also free!) here . Feeling stuck in your creative process? Or wondering how to start having a creative process at all? Check out my super-affordable C...
Jun 29, 2022•8 min•Ep. 135
Kevin Roth began to play the dulcimer in 1972 at the old age of thirteen, and at sixteen recorded his first album for Folkways / Smithsonian Folkways Records, which immediately launched him into international fame. More recently, a cancer diagnosis he was not expected to survive caused him to reevaluate his life and choose to survive and thrive. Kevin now teaches the techniques he used to make big changes in his life to others as a life coach who has also developed a form of dulcimer-based medit...
Jun 22, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 134
Are you the last item on your own list? If so, you're not alone—we all fall into this trap. Did you know it could be tamping down your joy and your creative process? Listen for the simple solution! Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Get stuff DONE at my free Creative Check-In/Parallel Universe Time session. Register here . Feeling stuck in your creative process? Or wondering how to start having a creative process at all? Check out my super-affordable...
Jun 15, 2022•7 min•Ep. 133
Dieter Randolph started his career in the “family business” of ministry. He’s since left that field, and has taken on a wide variety of jobs, from car sales to working for Google. These days, he’s a writer, speaker, coach, teacher, and podcaster. Along the way, he’s refined his ideas of what it means to live a meaningful life, including what leads us in the direction of meaning and how we get thrown off course. Those ideas also are the basis of his book, “Meaningfullfilled.” Dieter talks with me...
Jun 08, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 132
