Creative Pep Talk

Prompts for reflection, intention and hope with Andy J. Pizza and Sophie Miller. Step back from the holiday hustle, consider your 2024 year of creativity and look forward into the year to come. In this fun Christmas Carol themed episode (not too Christmassy so don’t let that put you off!) we are visited by 3 Ghosts: Past, Present and Future. Each Creative Ghost asks a question and we each answer their prompts. There are themes of gratitude, growth, presence, inspiration for 2025. This episode has a downloadable worksheet

10 Years of the Creative Pep Talk Podcast. Can you believe it? In this episode the tables get turned! Bestselling Author Katherine May interviews Andy J. Pizza about this ten year journey of a creative project. In this vulnerable behind the scenes chat we cover: How to unlock the creative discipline to keep showing up in your creative practice even when you may want to quit sometimes. Why you might want to include personal / vulnerable information in your work and how to think about what you want to share vs what you want to remain private Behind the scenes and creative journey details that Andy hasn’t shared before! We talk: Podcasting, ADHD and Storytelling. SHOW NOTES: Interview by Katherine May https://katherine-may.co.uk/ Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com SPONSORS: Miro Miro is a collaborative virtual workspace that syncs in real time for you and your team so that you can innovate an idea into an outcome seamlessly - http://miro.com Squarespace Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK

How do you find a creative niche? It's become a Creative Pep Talk classic cliche! In this Artist Case Study episode we talk through the creative journey of Scottish Singer-Songwriter, Olivia Rafferty. Olivia is such a great example of an artist who has found a novel way to cut through the noise by stepping out of her industry and dipping into another. From the creative sparks, to all the confusing conflicting advice, to finding something that works for you and rolling with it. http://www.oliviarafferty.com/ https://www.instagram.com/olivia_rafferty/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Syuo0IkP7frpCdRuWJEpp https://oliviarafferty.bandcamp.com/ https://soundcloud.com/oliviarafferty SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller SOPHIE MILLER Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones Pending Beautiful Collective Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? WHY? SPONSORS: Squarespace Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK Miro Miro is a collaborative virtual workspace that syncs in real time for you and your team so that you can innovate an idea into an outcome seamlessly - Miro | The Innovation Workspace

Episode 4/4 of The Journey of The True Fan Series How do you find an audience for your work? Does it feel like you're sat quietly with your fishing rod, just waiting patiently for something to bite? Have you really considered what you're hoping to catch and how best to get its attention? In this episode we explore the DISCOVERY of the 3 part plan: Discovery, Trust and Sell. We get into the essential purpose of your website too! This episode is in partnership with Squarespace! Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com Mentioned: Seth Godin 'Be Remarkable' Immanuel Kant SPONSORS: Uncommon Goods Check out Uncommon Goods and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal: www.uncommongoods.com Miro Miro is a collaborative virtual workspace that syncs in real time for you and your team so that you can innovate an idea into an outcome seamlessly - Miro | The Innovation Workspace

How can you take ownership of your creativity and quit waiting for someone to tell you what to do and how to do it? In this episode we discuss staying true to your younger self, taking charge of your path, leaning into that unicorn energy and holding onto the goofiness. Collaborative art by Andy J Pizza and Sarah Walsh. See instagram post for all phases of this collab from sketch to final. --------------- SHOW NOTES Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones pendingbeautiful.co  Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? whywithaquestionmark.com   ---Sarah Walsh--- Website: http://www.sarahwalshmakesthings.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahwalshmakesthings/ Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Tigersheepfriends 'I can be ok even if you're not ok' Teacher Quote Mentioned: Problemista movie & Julio Torres Illustrated Wildlife Treasury Vampire Weekend and Rostam CPT Rostam episode is #311 'Making Comics' book by Lynda Barry 'Bird by Bird' book by Anne Lamott 'Working it Out' Podcast with Mike Birbiglia https://www.birbigs.com/working-it-out-pod ---SPONSORS--- Uncommon Goods Check out Uncommon Goods and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal: http://uncommongoods.com Miro Miro is a collaborative virtual workspace that syncs in real time for you and your team so that you can innovate an idea into an outcome seamlessly http://miro.com Squarespace Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK

Sometimes the most simple act of presence can lead us from exhaustion, to recovery and back onto the path towards inspiration. Katherine May, author of The Electricity of Every Living Thing and Wintering joins us to talk about the inspiration behind her newest book Enchantment. In this episode we discuss the fog, the magic, the journey, and how we can nudge ourselves and others forward by: Reconnecting to a child-like sense of awe and wonder Trusting what comes natural Leaving a post-it note ----------------- SHOW NOTES: Web https://katherine-may.co.uk/ 'The Clearing' https://substack.com/@katherinemay Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katherinemay_/ MENTIONS: John Yorke: 'All tales, then, are at some level a journey into the woods to find the missing part of us, to retrieve it and make ourselves whole.' Richard Dawkins 'The Artist's Way' Book Picasso: 'Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working' Julian James- Origin of Consciousnessin the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind Kristin Hersh- The Future of Songwriting Mike Birbiglia podcast Co-Writing/ Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing/ Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack/ Theme Song: Yoni Wolf/ WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com SPONSORS: Uncommon Goods Check out Uncommon Goods and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal: http://uncommongoods.com Miro Miro is a collaborative virtual workspace that syncs in real time for you and your team so that you can innovate an idea into an outcome seamlessly http://miro.com

This is episode 3 of 4 in our Journey of The True Fan Series What’s the difference between a band whose music you love and a band t-shirt you’re proud to wear in public? In this episode we discuss a make-or-break element that is easy-to-miss. This piece transforms casual consumers into active ambassadors of your creative work, and yet it’s something most of us don’t think much about. We get into the essential purpose of your website too! This episode is in partnership with Squarespace! Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com This Jungian Life - Zombies https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-jungian-life/id1376929139?i=1000584041549 Ryan Holiday - Perrenial Seller https://perennialseller.com SPONSORS: Uncommon Goods Check out Uncommon Goods and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal: www.uncommongoods.com Miro Miro is a collaborative virtual workspace that syncs in real time for you and your team so that you can innovate an idea into an outcome seamlessly - http://miro.com

What if your art was an invitation rather than a gift? What if this was an invite to a party that celebrated failures? A FAIL-A-BRATION!? What happens when we share our wins AND losses, happy accidents AND miserable mishaps? In this fun and inspiring chat with Brad and Kristi Montague, we discuss the origins and inspiration behind their newest picture book 'FAIL-A-BRATION' and how an idea generously shared, can spark a movement. SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones pendingbeautiful.co  Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? whywithaquestionmark.com   Web: https://montagueworkshop.com/hello Brad's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradmontague Kristi's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristimontague Kid President: https://www.instagram.com/iamkidpresident Their Books: Fail-a-bration, The Circles All Around Us, The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination Mentioned: James Marshall Books Sister Corita Kent 'Burden of Dreams' documentary 'Adventures of Pete and Pete' tv show 'Son of Rambow' movie Robert Frost

When working on a project, do you carefully plot or fly by the seat of your pants? How do you switch gears between different projects or even different mediums? This episode is a conversation with Michael Dante DiMartino, the writer, producer and co-creator of the animated series 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' and 'Legend of Korra'. We discuss flipping genres, working on a variety of projects at a once, and finding the balance between dreaming big and getting the job done. SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones pendingbeautiful.co  Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? whywithaquestionmark.com   WEB: https://www.michaeldantedimartino.com/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/mike_dante_d His New Novel 'Both Here and Gone' https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW1JRPY7 Mentioned: NaNo WriMo: https://nanowrimo.org/ 'On Writing' https://stephenking.com/works/nonfiction/on-writing-a-memoir-of-the-craft.html Ambiguous Loss: https://www.ambiguousloss.com/ Storygrid https://storygrid.com/ SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK

How many people do you need to connect with to financially make or break your creative career? 1? 10? 100? 1000? In this episode we explore how you can figure out what it is that you're selling, so that trying to keep the lights on doesn't take all your creative energy. Part 2/4 of the Journey of the True Fan Series. Part 1 is episode 473 of Creative Pep Talk SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones pendingbeautiful.co  Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? whywithaquestionmark.com   MENTIONED: Kevin Kelly 1000 True Fans: https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/ Julien Baker https://julienbaker.com/ Boygenius http://xboygeniusx.com SPONSORS: MIRO Miro is a collaborative virtual workspace that syncs in real time for you and your team so that you can innovate an idea into an outcome seamlessly - miro.com

Why do we tell stories? What is my story? How and where do I even start? This episode is a conversation with award-winning screenwriter, director and author Brian McDonald about the why, what and how of telling stories. We dive deep into the process of finding substance, building structure and connecting with others. ---------------- Show Notes ---------------- Brian McDonald https://writeinvisibleink.com/ https://www.instagram.com/writeinvisibleink/ Books https://writeinvisibleink.com/#books Invisible Ink Land of the Dead Previous episode with Brian: http://creativepeptalk.com/326 SPONSORS: Squarespace Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK

How to step by step your way to a big goal, glide around obstacles and combine multiple mediums/passions into your masterpiece. This episode is an interview with 3D artist Julian Glander. We discuss his new full length animated feature film and the journey he took to get there. SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones pendingbeautiful.co  Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? whywithaquestionmark.com   Julian Glander https://glander.co/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/glanderco/ 'Boys Go To Jupiter' movie https://glander.co/BOYS-GO-TO-JUPITER Also mentioned: Beefstrong SPONSORS: Squarespace Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK

Why aren’t more people discovering and embracing your work? It must not be good enough, right?  You’ve heard it a billion times: Just do the work. But what if obsessively overthinking and over-tinkering is just as dangerous of a distraction as procrastination?  What would it look like if you redirected some of your focus away from micro-creative improvements and towards developing a more intentional relationship with new fans? In this episode we explore how to get new people to discover your work and form a meaningful long lasting connection with them as well! Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones pendingbeautiful.co  Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? whywithaquestionmark.com   Nancy Duarte https://www.ted.com/speakers/nancy_duarte Billy Eichner https://www.instagram.com/billyeichner Invisible Things Books https://www.andyjpizza.com/invisiblethingsbook Also Mentioned: Andy Stanley 'Don't plan on winning the lottery'

When approaching creative projects- how do you express yourself, challenge yourself and be true to yourself? This episode is an interview with Grammy nominated musician Gallant. From the relatable moment when he snapped, to the joyful moment it all clicked, Gallant walks us through his creative process from intuitive mood-boards to finding the flow. Stick to the end for a fresh take on creating mood-boards to inspire your projects. Gallant Links https://gallant.lnk.to/Zinc Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sogallant YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sogallant His New Album 'Zinc' is Out 9/27/2024 https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/1mD2QDlJ2UHLF6X7oFpnlz ---------- SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones pendingbeautiful.co  Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? whywithaquestionmark.com   SPONSORS: Squarespace: https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK

Check out Adobe Express' "In the Making" Podcast" here: https://link.chtbl.com/ZNKQZa97 In the Making - from Adobe Express - kicks off season two with Teresa Au interviewing Vanessa Rivera of The Life of AIVAX about her whimsical Photoshop art and how she balances a time-consuming creative career with a family as a working mom. Vanessa talks about creative tools that save her time in her work, how she and her family left their home to travel in Europe for an extended period, how to set limits on her work life, and how to find joy and connection in a lonely world as a creative.

How do you create something both accessible and innovative? What do you draw inspiration from to make authentic and meaningful work? In this episode- animator, illustrator and author Sanjay Patel tells us about his life-changing journey back to his upbringing, we discuss his deep-dive into the well of inspiration he found and how it all came together into a playful preschool show. ------- SHOW NOTES: Writing / Host: Andy J. Pizza Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones pendingbeautiful.co  Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? whywithaquestionmark.com   Sanjay Patel https://www.gheehappy.com https://www.instagram.com/gheehappy/ https://www.youtube.com/@gheehappystudio SPONSORS: Immaterial: 5,000 Years of Art, One Material at a Time a podcast by The Met - Each episode examines a material of art, like clay... stone... trash... and what they can reveal about history and humanity. You’ll get a sense of the meaningfulness of these materials, and see them in a whole new way. Check out Immaterial here: https://bio.to/ImmaterialPodcast!PScreativepeptalk Riverside - The easiest way for you and your team to record, edit and share professional grade Videos and Podcasts, from anywhere in the world.  https://creators.riverside.fm/creativepeptalk

Do you have a box of treasured momentos, a drawer of unfinished artwork or a notebook of ideas you never quite started and definitely didn't finish? Author and illustrator Carson Ellis tells us how she uncovered a forgotten journal from her 20s and how it informed an entire series of work, with a little help along the way from some other past projects. This interview is creative inspiration for how to tell stories using pictures, capture nostalgia and perhaps even create art today as a time capsule for the future. ------- SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones pendingbeautiful.co  Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? whywithaquestionmark.com https://www.carsonellis.com/ https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/one-week-in-january Picture book mentions: What is Love, Du is Tak and Wildwood TV show mentions: Mad Men Band: https://www.decemberists.com/ Author Kazoo Ishiguro https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/14137/kazuo-ishiguro/ Julian Glander https://glander.co/ Past episode with Carson Ellis and Mac Barnett: https://creativepeptalk.com/355 SPONSORS: Immaterial: 5,000 Years of Art, One Material at a Time a podcast by The Met - Each episode examines a material of art, like clay... stone... trash... and what they can reveal about history and humanity. You’ll get a sense of the meaningfulness of these materials, and see them in a whole new way. Check out Immaterial here: https://bio.to/ImmaterialPodcast!PScreativepeptalk Riverside - The easiest way for you and your team to record, edit and share professional grade Videos and Podcasts, from anywhere in the world.  https://creators.riverside.fm/creativepeptalk

It’s difficult to know where to focus your creative energy. If you don’t know whether you should be learning a new skill, diving deep into a new project or marketing something you’ve already done, this episode is for you! -------- SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones pendingbeautiful.co  Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? whywithaquestionmark.com Dan Harmon, Story Circle https://boords.com/blog/storytelling-101-the-dan-harmon-story-circle The Heroine's Journey by Gail Carrier https://gailcarriger.com/books/hj/ Also mentioned the Maureen Murdock book by the same name SPONSORS: Immaterial: 5,000 Years of Art, One Material at a Time a podcast by The Met - Each episode examines a material of art, like clay... stone... trash... and what they can reveal about history and humanity. You’ll get a sense of the meaningfulness of these materials, and see them in a whole new way. Check out Immaterial here: https://bio.to/ImmaterialPodcast!PScreativepeptalk

This episode is for you if: -You keep giving up -You violently swing your focus from money-making, to never mixing money and creativity ever again -You need a method for staying true to your creative core and not getting swept away by all the shiny objects  SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones pendingbeautiful.co  Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? whywithaquestionmark.com  Lisa Miller PhD - The Awakened Brain https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/608347/the-awakened-brain-by-lisa-miller-phd/ Jill Bolte Taylor PhD - Whole Brain Living https://www.drjilltaylor.com/whole-brain-living/ Joseph Campbell - The Hero with a Thousand Faces https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/314324/the-hero-with-a-thousand-faces-by-joseph-campbell/ Carl Jung - The Tension of Opposites https://www.amazon.com/Man-His-Symbols-Carl-Jung/dp/0440351839 Christopher Nolan - Inception https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/ The Matrix https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/ Susan Cain - Bittersweet https://susancain.net/book/bittersweet/ Lin-Manuel Miranda - Hamilton https://www.hamiltonmusical.com/ About Time https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2194499/ Charlie Brown Christmas https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059026/ Joe Hisaishi - Composer for Miyazaki Films https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0386749/ Hayao Miyazaki - Animator and Filmmaker https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0594503/ The PodGlomerate network https://www.podglomerate.com/ Newsletter signup https://andyjpizza.substack.com/ "Invisible Things" project Invisiblethings.co Invisible Things Enamel Pins https://www.etsy.com/shop/CreativePepTalk?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1290656010&from_page=listing§ion_id=33163429 SPONSORS: Immaterial: 5,000 Years of Art, One Material at a Time a podcast by The Met - Each episode examines a material of art, like clay... stone... trash... and what they can reveal about history and humanity. You’ll get a sense of the meaningfulness of these materials, and see them in a whole new way. Check out Immaterial here: https://bio.to/ImmaterialPodcast!PScreativepeptalk

EPISODE DESCRIPTION: Everything changes. Platforms. The Economy. Seasons of Life.  What do you do when these changes block your path in such a way, that no matter how you look at it, you can’t seem to find a path forward? You need to get distance to find perspective, but you can’t always press pause and escape to a two week vacation anytime you get stuck. In this episode we talk about the research backed power of the journey mentality and how to access its perspective shifting magic. This is episode 1 of our ongoing Creative Journey Series. SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones pendingbeautiful.co  Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? whywithaquestionmark.com   Lisa Miller Phd "The Awakened Brain" https://www.lisamillerphd.com/ Joseph Campbell "A Hero with A Thousand Faces" https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-hero-with-a-thousand-faces-joseph-campbell/6894600?ean=9781577315933 Donald Miller "A Million Miles in A Thousand Years" https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-million-miles-in-a-thousand-years-how-i-learned-to-live-a-better-story-donald-miller/228927?ean=9781400202980 The Curse of Oak Island https://www.history.com/shows/the-curse-of-oak-island SPONSORS: Immaterial: 5,000 Years of Art, One Material at a Time a podcast by The Met - Each episode examines a material of art, like clay... stone... trash... and what they can reveal about history and humanity. You’ll get a sense of the meaningfulness of these materials, and see them in a whole new way. Check out Immaterial here: https://bio.to/ImmaterialPodcast!PScreativepeptalk