It's All Poetry

What if attention isn’t a currency to be spent, but a gift to be given? Feminist creator Amelia Hruby invites us to reimagine the way we relate to focus, presence, and the constant pull of the digital world. Together we explore what it means to reclaim your attention from the systems designed to monetize it, and how giving attention (rather than paying it) can become a radical act of care.In this episode, you’ll discover…Why flipping from paying attention into giving attention changes how your day feels (and who’s in charge of it)The sneaky myth of “scarce attention” and what’s actually being commodified on social mediaA gentler approach to focus: tending what you desire instead of gripping what you “should”Resources mentioned:Deep Listening by Pauline OliverosSaving Time by Jenny OdellThe Social Dilemma (doc) + Jaron Lanier’s Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now Finally, make sure to grab Amelia’s new book: Your Attention Is Sacred Except on Social Media — available directly from Amelia: ⁠offthegrid.fun/attention⁠ (bundles include audio!).

What if I told you that “money” was once the name of a goddess? That’s right—long before debit cards and two-day shipping, the Romans worshipped Juno Monetta, the goddess whose temple literally minted coins. Today, financial coach Katie Scott joins Nicole to unearth how ancient warnings, modern shame, and personal money stories shape the way we think about value.In This Episode, You’ll Discover…The Roman goddess hidden in the word “money” and why she still haunts our bank accountsWhy even accountants struggle to manage money—and what that means for the rest of usHow budgeting flips the script from reactive to proactive (and why that feels like freedom)The sneaky beliefs about wealth that might be sabotaging your goals without you realizing itA surprising metaphor for money that might change the way you see it foreverGet Katie's free CFO Starter Kit (the tool Nicole swears transformed her copywriting business) and Katie's other resources at: morewithmoney.com/academyInstagram: @katie.morewithmoneyConnect with the It’s All Poetry team (a.k.a. Nicole!) at itsallpoetry.podcast@gmail.comSign up for weekly marketing prompts that don’t feel gross at nicolecopy.com/promptsMusic by Jack Pierce 🎶

How did a word rooted in plunder and violence become a symbol of creativity, courage, and rebellion? In this swashbuckling episode, Nicole is joined by educator and strategic mischief-maker Rachel Ropeik to explore the word pirate — from its violent etymological roots to its reclaimed modern spirit.Together, they unpack the surprising history behind pirate codes, the difference between stealing and venturing, and what it really means to be a pirate with a heart in today’s world. In this episode, you’ll discover…Why pirates might have invented early versions of health insurance and income equalityThe lesser-known meaning at the root of the word “pirate” (spoiler: it’s not theft!)How “pirate energy” meets “institutional energy” — and what happens nextWhy rebellion without purpose isn’t enoughHow Rachel brings mischief, movement, and play into her everyday workFurther Research & Episode Extras: Rachel’s membership community is open!✨ Consortium of Arts-Related Entrepreneurs (CARE)rachelropeik.com/careAn online nest of support and connection for independent artists and culture workers.Doors open from September 15–26, 2025Use code POETRY15 for 15% off your first payment!We also talked about...The Only Life That Mattered — The story of Anne Bonny, Mary Read, and “Calico Jack” RackhamPirate codes and voting rights among 18th-century pirate crewsPirates of the Caribbean, Our Flag Means Death, and of course… animated Fox Robin HoodConnect with Rachel RopeikWebsite: rachelropeik.comNewsletter (sign up via the site!)Socials: @theartropeik

What if dancing again could heal something you thought was unchangeable? In this episode, Jess Grippo joins Nicole to talk about dance as more than choreography. It’s expression. It’s story. It’s healing. Together, they explore how movement changes across a lifetime, what dance reveals about our inner world, and why it’s never too late (or too awkward) to start dancing again.Tune in to discover:The unexpected connection between tantrums and tap shoesDoes dance require music?What “prescribed vs. improvised” says about how we approach dance (and life?)How dance became a sacred ritual long before it was a performanceWhat happens when you stop waiting to be good and start moving anywayA few quotes:“At that young age, I already felt that pressure of having to perform. And I did not like it.” – Jess“The more experience we have, the more pressure we feel to be good. But sometimes, younger me just went for it.” – Jess“It felt like if I could dance, it would change my life.” – NicoleResources & Links:Jess’s book: Dance with This Book – Available via jessgrippo.comWatch the dance history doc Uprooted for more on jazz and resistance: uprootedfilm.comExplore the 13-Day “Dance Again” series at youcandanceagain.comWebsite: jessgrippo.com and youcandanceagain.comInstagram: @jessgrippoTikTok & YouTube: @jessgrippoJoin the Dance Again Studio: Online classes and creative challenges via her website

In this episode, Nicole welcomes back her very first repeat guest (🥳), Cleoniki Kesidis, copywriter extraordinaire and fellow funnel-skeptic. The two dig into the uncomfortable origins and metaphors behind the word funnel, asking why such a common marketing term so often feels…well, kinda icky.What starts as a conversation about email sequences and sales paths becomes a beautifully winding journey into ethical marketing, customer autonomy, and a whole lot of metaphors.Let’s talk about the words we use in the marketing systems we build.In this episode, you’ll discover…Why “funnel” might not be the best metaphor—and a few alternatesWhat cows, tornadoes, and Temple Grandin have to do with marketingThe overlooked power of sequencing and why your audience deserves an exitWhy the best funnels feel more like ecosystems (and how to start designing yours)What to do if you find yourself IN a funnel as a business owner (which you will, like, all the time)A few quotes:“It doesn’t feel like a friendly place to exist. It’s like you’re Dorothy and your house has been picked up and you’re being tossed around inside a tornado.”“You want the sand to leave. You’re not trying to catch everybody.”“When we talk about optimizing, it’s not about making every number as high as it can go.”“When you’re an entrepreneur, you are always in a funnel.”Connect with Cleo:Grab Cleo's free resource: Everything You Need to Sell Your Evergreen Course Consistently at cekcopywriting.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cleonikikesidis (she’s so good here)Curious about ethical sales and lead magnets that don’t feel gross? Check out Nicole’s newsletter for prompts and ideas: nicolecopy.com/prompts

What does it really mean to write? Is it an act or a process? And can AI truly replicate it? In this episode, writer, editor, and book coach Katie Wolf joins Nicole to break down the layers of the word write—from its ancient roots to the modern fear of simply getting started.Katie shares her personal journey with writing, how self-doubt held her back for years, and the unexpected ways she overcame it. The two also discuss AI (of course) and the psychological tug-of-war between writing in private and sharing our work publicly.In This Episode, You’ll Discover…The surprising, ancient origins of the word write (hint: it wasn’t always about, well, writing)Why writing feels both deeply personal and inherently performativeHow our biological fear of being seen still affects writers todayHow ancient storytelling was closer to performance art than private reflection (and what that means for writers today).Whether AI-generated writing is “real” writing—and how it’s already reshaping the creative process.A Few Quotes:"The writing process is loaded with moments of absolute joy—and absolute frustration." – Katie Wolf"The fear of being seen keeps us from even doing the behind-the-scenes work of writing." – Nicole"If you want to write a book, you want to write a book. AI can't do that for you." – Katie Wolf"Writing is just telling the truth—over and over again, in different ways." – NicoleWays to Connect with Katie:🔗 Follow Katie on Instagram & TikTok: @katiewolfwrites🎙 Listen to Katie’s podcast, Your Big Creative Life📚 Explore writing tips & coaching from Katie: thekatiewolf.com

Hi, welcome to season three of It's All Poetry.My name is Nicole Cloutier, your host and resident word nerd... and for someone who her whole life has been told how quiet and shy she was and thought she would never ever start a podcast, this is a pretty exciting milestone. So as we enter season three, I find myself re-reflecting on what this podcast actually is, why I'm doing it, why we're all here, what we're creating.I did a lot of journaling, and here's what I've got for you: As you might already know, I run a copywriting studio as my "day job," which is something that I've been doing for more than a decade. And for a while in that business, I've been touting this line: words are magic.And when I say that in marketing, I mean "words are magic" in that they can alchemize into money if you know how to use them towards that end. But I also mean it quite literally, like In the makeup, in the erythral thing that words are made of, they are raw magic. And being human is telling stories with those words. Stories about ourselves, stories about the world we live in. We even tell stories about the words that we use. Take money, for example, which is a word we will talk about this season . What stories do you tell yourself about that word? And these words, they all have past lives, if you will.Some of them carry centuries old stories that we don't even consciously know, but we feel them. So one of our main purposes in this podcast to bring us back to our thesis is to look back at the past lives of words so that we can really understand them AND in doing so, lighten some of the power they have over us.I'm sure you'd love to do that with a word like money, right? I know I would. Or productivity, or even scale, for my fellow business owners. And yes, we are going to be talking about all those words this season. So, here we are. And that's what we're doing, and all I can promise you is that you'll learn something fun every episode, especially if you like words, but even if you don't. And you'll meet my amazing guests who are mostly solopreneurs, small business owners, who use the words that we choose every day. And hey, if you ever want to chat with me about words, please send me an email. I'm always open to having discussions or bringing someone on as a guest Please do not hesitate to, to reach out. And with that, welcome to season three of It's All Poetry. I can't wait to share these conversations with you.

Have you ever wondered if you even had an intuition? Or if it was buried under years and years of people-pleasing, shoulds, etc? That’s how I felt …. before this conversation. But not after. Lauren Levine—a movement teacher, psychic medium, and someone whose intuition practically glows—opened my eyes to what intuition really is: a skill. In this episode, we unpack what it means to connect with that quiet knowing inside of us, how to tell the difference between intuition and fear, and why your messy, beautiful life experiences might actually be sharpening your ability to hear it. Tune in to learn… Why intuition isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you can grow. What intuition feels like when it’s real. How movement and mindfulness can help you hear your inner voice more clearly. Why your past experiences might be helping, not hindering, your intuition. (This blew my mind). Resources & Links: Lauren’s Website: Explore Lauren Levine’s offerings in movement and psychic mediumship at LaurenLevineMovement.com. Follow Lauren on Instagram: Daily insights and updates at @LaurenLevineMovement. Resources on Intuition: Learn more about the science behind the caudate nucleus and its link to intuitive decision-making.

What does “design” truly mean, and how does it shape more than just our screens? Sarah Jutras, founder of Huzzah Studio and creator of the "Freelance for Life" Substack, joins Nicole to take a deep dive into the expansive world of design—from user experience and app development to designing a fulfilling freelance life. With a journey rooted in childhood crafts and inspired by mentors and Italian art, Sarah reveals her unique philosophy of design as both a creative process and a plan for living with purpose. In This Episode, You’ll Discover… How Sarah’s early inspirations in design shape her approach to lifestyle design today What it means to "design" a freelance career and why it’s about more than just aesthetics The philosophical roots of design—from crafting family experiences to creating UI with impact Insights into life-centered design and how it challenges traditional UX/UI for broader, meaningful outcomes A Few Quotes: “Everything is design. Everything.” — Paul Rand, echoed by Sarah Jutras “Design is at the intersection of art and plan—it has life in it.” “Freelancing is a creative practice; everything is an experiment.” “Ultimately, all problems of design merge into one great problem: design for life.” Further Research: Sarah’s Substack and courses can be found at Freelance for Life – freelanceforlife.com Check out Huzzah Studio – huzzah.studio Resources on Paul Rand’s philosophy on design and “life-centered” UX Ways to Contact or Connect with Sarah: Website: huzzahstudio.com Substack & courses: freelanceforlife.com LinkedIn: Sarah Jutras As Sarah reminds us, “everything is an experiment.” Consider how you design your days, your work, and your relationships. What would life look like if you brought the creativity of design into your own daily choices?

When Cody Cook-Parrott joined me to explore the word "landscape," I thought we'd talk about pretty views and garden design. Instead, we discovered poetry hiding in 1800s dictionary definitions, learned that landscape is secretly related to friendship (what?), and somehow ended up having a fascinating conversation about compost. As one does. In this episode you'll discover... Why looking up old dictionary definitions might be Cody's new favorite hobby (the 1828 version is particularly delightful) A fresh perspective on collaborating with land (and what that actually means) The surprisingly (or not so surprisingly?) deep connection between prayer and creativity A whole new way to think about the spaces we inhabit, both inside and out The Goods Cody's new book "Look About You: A Book of Ordinary Prayers" arrives November 19th! Pre-order by Nov 12th to get it release week: ⁠Through Cody's website⁠ (comes with thoughtfully chosen extras) Or find it wherever books are sold online If that link's not working, just head to Cody's website (www.codycookparrott.com) and click "Online Shop." We also mentioned: Agnes Varda's "The Beaches of Agnes" (which contains the most perfect quote about landscapes and memory) "70 Degrees of Wisdom" by Rachel Pollack (for insights into ordinary magic) Questions? Email me: ⁠itsallpoetry.podcast@gmail.com⁠ Want email reminders for this podcast? Head to nicolecopy.com/prompts A small suggestion: After listening, you might want to spend some time watching leaves dance in the wind. Just putting that out there. 🍂

So how is trust like a basket of grapes? Guess you have to listen to find out. :) In this episode, Nicole sits down with Taylor LeCours, a fellow copywriter and brand strategist, to explore the word "trust" - diving deep into its meanings, etymology, and implications for both business and personal relationships. You’ll also get some impromptu (and very valuable!) copywriting lessons! In this episode you'll learn: How trust and hope are intertwined, and why both are essential? (up for debate!) Why the etymology of "trust" feels more like an ingredients list than a progression. Why trust points are becoming increasingly important in marketing. How returning things you don't want builds your self-trust! The delicate balance of building trust ethically in copywriting Resources Mentioned: Take Taylor's Brand Archetype Quiz: Available on her Instagram Connect with Taylor on Instagram (especially during her current rebrand!) @theideahaven Looking to connect further? Connect with the It's All Poetry podcast team (i.e., Nicole!) at itsallpoetry.podcast@gmail.com Sign up for weekly marketing prompts that don't feel gross at nicolecopy.com/prompts Find show notes and links at nicolecopy.com/its-all-poetry Music by Jack Pierce

"We all have it. We all have problems with it. We all want it. And we all also are really terrified of the ways in which we want it." In this episode, Nicole Cloutier sits down with Shivani Mehta Bhatia, founder of Tulsi Strategies and host of the Intimate Practice podcast to talk about the word "intimacy." Tune in to learn… The etymology of "intimacy" and how it relates to both internal and external experiences Why intimacy is not just about romantic relationships, but a fundamental aspect of human connection and self-understanding How power dynamics and societal structures influence our capacity for intimacy The interconnection between intimacy, vulnerability, and imagination in creating social change Practical ways to develop "relational skills" and foster deeper connections with ourselves and others Looking for more info about Shivani? Here's where you can find her: Listen to Shivani's podcast, Intimate Practice, wherever you get your podcasts Sign up for Shivani's newsletter at www.shivani.co Check out "The People's Syllabus," Shivani's curated reading list for a liberatory revolutionary summer Learn more about Shivani's work in equity and justice at Tulsi Strategies Resources & Links: All music is by Jack Pierce Connect with the podcast team (i.e., Nicole!) at itsallpoetry.podcast@gmail.com Sign up for weekly marketing prompts that don’t feel gross here.

What if the word 'pleasure' has been whispering "approve me" all along? Today, I'm thrilled to dive deep into a word that's more complicated than it seems: pleasure. In this episode, Sarah Diedrick (writer, sex educator, yoga teacher) and I explore the multifaceted nature of pleasure and its importance in our lives. In this episode, you'll learn: How the definition of pleasure has evolved over time and its connection to approval The difference between seeking pleasure and being receptive to it How our nervous system impacts our ability to experience pleasure The cultural messages we receive about pleasure and how they shape our experiences The importance of communication in relationships and pleasure How pleasure intersects with work, rest, and daily life Highlights from our conversation: Sarah shares her journey of expanding her understanding of pleasure beyond just sex We discuss the importance of playfulness and receptivity in experiencing pleasure We explore how trauma and stress can impact our ability to be open to pleasure We delve into the connection between pleasure and approval, and how it shapes our experiences Sarah explains the differences between spontaneous and responsive desire, and how understanding these can improve relationships We talk about the challenge of communicating our needs and desires, especially in intimate situations We share our thoughts on the pleasure of food and how it connects to all our senses and community Resources mentioned: Emily Nagoski's book "Come As You Are" Judith Lasseter's teachings on perception Kara Lowenthal's thought work Connect with Sarah: Instagram: @sarahdiedrick Newsletter: "Intimate Distance" on Substack Connect with me at itsallpoetry.podcast@gmail.com And sign up for my weekly marketing prompts that don't feel gross at nicolecopy.com/prompts

These days, "performance" is often used with a negative connotation. We don't want anything we do to look like a performance... we'd much rather be authentic. But what if performance is necessary for collective growth and acknoledgement and celebration. That's Melinda Beck's argument — and honestly, I'm on board. In this episode, you'll discover: The surprising etymology of "performance" and how its definition has evolved over time. Why performance isn't just about the stage - it's woven into our daily lives and social interactions The complex world of "performing authenticity" in modern media and marketing How performance serves as a powerful collective agreement and ritual in our society A behind-the-scenes peek at the casting call process in voiceovers Why we shouldn't give performance such a bad rap - it's actually a form of consideration for your audience The mind-blowing way performance can literally sync heartbeats in an audience Plus, Melinda shares a mini acting lesson that changed my perspective on what it means to truly perform. Check out Melinda's work at artistmelindabeck.com Give Melinda's audio fiction "Moss Hollow" a listen on most podcast platforms Learn about the Belle of Louisville, where Melinda currently works in public programming Connect with It's All Poetry: Have thoughts about the episode? I'd love to hear from you! Email me at itsallpoetry.podcast@gmail.com Want weekly marketing prompts that don't feel gross? Sign up at nicolecopy.com/prompts

In this episode, I sit down with bookkeeper, jewelry designer, and budding mushroom farmer Sarah Loertscher, to explore the poetic (and yet also rather technical) word "fallow." Together, we unpack the complexities of creative rest, the shame often associated with taking breaks, and the natural cycles of productivity and regeneration. In this episode you'll learn: The etymology and varied meanings of "fallow," from its agricultural roots to its metaphorical applications in creative life How to reframe periods of rest or non-productivity as necessary and natural, rather than as failure The difference between choosing to go fallow and accidentally finding yourself in a fallow period Why "quit" might be too harsh a word for creative pauses, and how "going fallow" offers a gentler alternative The unexpected connections between farming, creativity, and personal growth The challenge (and potential benefits) of doing absolutely nothing for two hours a day Looking for more info about Sarah? Here's where you can find her: Explore Sarah's jewelry work at sarahloertscher.com Learn about her bookkeeping services at HeyPrism.com Keep an eye out for updates on Cloverfield Farm, Sarah's mushroom farming venture Connect with the It's All Poetry podcast team (i.e., Nicole!) at itsallpoetry.podcast@gmail.com And sign up for weekly marketing prompts that don't feel gross at ⁠⁠nicolecopy.com/prompts