Creative Pep Talk
A Weekly Podcast Companion for Your Creative JourneyTransform your creative potential into reality by making your creativity a practice. A “creative discipline” can feel like an oxymoron. Creativity is about doing something new. Discipline is about doing something consistently. The aim of this podcast is to help you strike that elusive balance. Each week, New York Times Bestselling Author Illustrator Andy J. Pizza shares everything he’s learning about building a thriving creative practice. Through solo episodes and interviews with top-tier creatives, Pizza brings you the strategies and stories that you need week in and week out to keep your inner c...
The Discipline of Creative Magic with Bestselling Author Kate DiCamillo
Looking for something to put you in the creative spirit headspace?
This episode is it!
Have you lost the magic in your creative practice?
#1 Bestselling Author Kate DiCamillo is both one of the most magical creatives I have ever spoke with and one of the most regimented, and somehow, these two things actually work together!
I was enamored with Kate’s creative perspective and spirit.
So grateful for this chance to speak with the human behind beloved books like “Because of Winn-Dixie”, “The Tale of Despereaux”, “Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane”...
Constant Resistance? Get Back into the Flow with This Biopsychosocial Shift
Stuck in a “no” energy towards your life and creative practice?
Feeling constant resistance?
Not even enjoying parts of your process that you used to love?
Tune in for the shift that has helped me find my flow time and time again.
Stick until the end for our Creative Call to Adventure. It’s called “Labor Savor” and it unlocked one of the best creative days I have had in a long time!
EPISODE 578
SHOW NOTES:
Viktor Frankl “Man’s Search for Meaning”
https://en.wikipedia.org...
Find "Your Way" with Toy Story 5 Co-Director/Writer Kenna Jean Harris
Get back in touch with your creative voice.
Quit trying to create “the right way”.
Infuse your practice with the fun and flow of playing pretend!
This episode with Toy Story 5 Co-Director/Writer Kenna Jean Harris is FOR YOU! Kenna brings so much lightheartedness and humanity to the latest Pixar film and to this chat!
If you’re looking for something to switch on your creative brain, this is it!
Episode 577 of Creative Pep Talk
SHOW NOTES:
Kenna Jean Harris
https://www.instagram.com/ke...
576 - The Anti-System: For When Normal Habits, Productivity, and Wellness Practices Aren’t Working
Do normal productivity systems not work for you?
Are you struggling to stay in a positive place creatively?
Are you frustrated with the tips that work for everyone else but not for you?
If so, this episode IS for you! Try the anti-system. This shift made a huge difference in my creativity, stress management and wellbeing. Hope it helps you too!
SHOW NOTES:
Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co
Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co
Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com...
575 - An Alternative to Habits for Creative Brains with ADHD Neuroscientist Anne-Laure Le Cunff
If you struggle to make changes in your life and hate trying to create new positive habits, this episode is for you!
ADHD Neuroscientist Anne-Laure LeCunff has a totally different approach that is fun and friendly to creative neurodivergent brains!
We also talk about why following your curiosity is so key to charting your path.
This is life changing stuff! Tune in!
SHOW NOTES:
Anne-Laure LeCunff
https://anne-laure.net
Tiny Experiments Book
https://nesslabs.com/retailers
Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co
A...
574 - 3 Things to Do When You Can’t Change Your Circumstance
Are you stuck in a season of life that’s making you miserable?
Have you tried everything you can think to change things with no luck?
Do you feel like life has you in a holding pattern?
If so, this episode is for you!
SHOW NOTES:
Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co
Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co
Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com
Spotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/pl...
573 - Need More Joy? How Creativity is the Discipline in Optimism Tina Roth Eisenberg
Do you need more optimism in your life right now?
I know I sure do in these current times we’re living in!
This chat with Tina Roth Eisenberg AKA SwissMiss sure did the trick!
Tina’s generosity, impulse to gather people and complain by creating filled me with so much pep and I think it will do the same for you!
If you don’t know, Tina is the creator of the blog SwissMiss, the temporary tattoo company Tattly, and CreativeMornings. Her work has had a huge impact on me and I...
572 - Listen to Unlock Flow Now, Prep for Big Projects and Courage to Put Yourself Out There
If you’re looking for something to switch on your creative passion, this episode is it. We talk:
1 Getting into the flow zone
2 How to get over the fear of putting yourself and your work out there
3 Why teaching is a powerful part of being creative
4 How to stop quitting things that are working
5 How to mentally prep for big projects
This is an Ask Dr. Pizza Q&A episode. Submit your question for the next Q&A episode by clicking the microphone at the bottom right co...
571 - How to Escape Creative Paralysis According to Studies, Science and Real Life Stories with David Epstein
Too many options got you stuck?
Are your ideas not connecting?
Do you need a prompt to kickstart your energy and action?
This episode is for you!
This is a chat with #1 New York Times Bestselling author David Epstein about his phenomenal new book “Inside the Box” - absolutely loved this book. One of my all time favorite books on creativity and this conversation matched the experience!
SHOW NOTES:
David Epstein https://davidepstein.com
Inside the Box https://davidepstein.com/inside-the-box/
Producer / Editor: Soph...
570 - The 3 Part Process I Use to Actually Get Creative Stuff Done
Listen if:
1 - You can’t figure out why you can’t get stuff done.
2 - You sometimes finish things and other times not so much and don’t know why.
3 - You need a fresh method for motivating yourself and following through!
SHOW NOTES:
Interest Based Nervous System
https://neurodivergentinsights.com/working-with-your-interest-based-nervous-system/?srsltid=AfmBOor-o8P_HzyEC6-fOzHpvwaOdz4Q55LbMoQWi7XcnAzmv9NW0jjl
Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co
Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co
Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? h...
569 - Making Things Happen, Create on Command, Changing Direction with Asher Perlman
Has going with the flow taken you somewhere you no longer want to be?
Are you sick of waiting for good ideas to show up?
If you need inspiration to regain control of your creativity, this conversation with Emmy-nominated, WGA Award-winning, Peabody Award-winning comedian, writer, cartoonist, and best-selling author Asher Perlman is for you!
SHOW NOTES:
Asher Perlman
https://ashermaxperlman.com
Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co
Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co
Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://w...
568 - Make Finishing Strong Fun, Where to Find Ideas & Create an Influence Shelf w Sophie Blackall
This episode is for you if:
1 - You are struggling to finish creative projects.
2 - You don’t know where to find ideas.
3 - You are sick of waiting for opportunities to come your way.
4 - You need a fun actionable prompt to define your influences in a new way.
This is a chat with legendary author illustrator Sophie Blackall! Sophie is a 2 time Caldecott Medalist and makes super gorgeous books!
SHOW NOTES:
Sophie Blackall
https://www.sophieblackall.com
Story Rug...
567 - Find What to Focus On Next with These Frameworks
If you don’t know what side quest to focus on next…
Or
You feel conflicted about where to channel your energy…
Or
You can’t seem to start or finish your next project…
This episode is for you!
I explore 4 - 6 frameworks for organizing your ideas and selecting which one to take action on.
This is a “CPT UNPLUGGED” episode, which means there’s no music or edits, it’s a yap session exploring where I am at right now and what’s helping me navigate this mom...
566 - Creative Strategy: Less Social Media, Income Streams & 3 Essentials
Is Social Media Driving you crazy?
Do you feel like your creative practice is off balance?
Do you need to rethink your creative strategy or embrace strategic thinking for the first time?
If any of those ring true, this episode is for you!
This episode is me being interviewed by Amelia Hruby on her podcast Off the Grid
Off the Grid is for creatives trying to succeed without social media - and I had such a blast and we talked about so many interesting things I decided to share...
565 - What Type of Creator Are You? Unlock Your Style with Katie & Ilana of Goodtype
This episode is for you if:
1 - You feel lost trying to find yourself as a creator
2 - You need some different types of artists to see yourself in
3 - You need a lighthearted chat to help get you out of your funk and seeing new possibilities in your creative path today
This is a chat with Katie Johnson and Ilana Griffo of Goodtype about insights from their new book “Follow Your Art: Uncover & Unleash Your Creative Voice”.
SHOW NOTES:
Goodtype
https://goodtype.us/about-us
Fo...
564 - Unlock Creative Drive, Peace and Clarity with This Framework
This episode is for you if:
1 - You kind of hate your current life season
2 - You are a neurodivergent creative
3 - You struggle with being present
4 - You always want to skip to the end of a process or goal
This idea was one of the biggest shifts in my life and creative journey, I hope it gives you some peace and motivation for your current stage!
SHOW NOTES:
Joseph Campbell - Hero of A Thousand Faces
https://en.wikipedia...
563 - Find Your Inner Writer, What You Want to Say and See Your Ideas with Halsey Berryman
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co
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This episode is for you if:
1 - You are sick and tired of waiting for someone else to tell you what to do.
2 - You want to take control of your creative path but struggle with self doubt.
3- You need to learn how to recognize what your ideas look like.
SHOW NOTES:
Halsey Berryman
https://www.halseyberryman.com
Pests & Other Friends by Halsey Berryman
https://www...
562 - Show the Real You, Why the Death of Insta isn't All Bad, Do Your Thing by Being Part of Something Bigger & ADHD
Do you feel like your work is very you-ish?
How do you make creative work that really feels authentic?
What does that even mean!?
Today’s episode is a deep dive conversation and we cover a lot of topics around making authentic work.
We talk about:
How to strip away the ego and throw off trying to be cool.
Why instagram being kind of over for artists might be a good thing.
Why doing your thing often starts with being part of something bigger than your...
561 - The Best Case for Not Fearing AI, Help with Email and Creative Diet with Cal Newport
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co
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BUCKLE UP! This episode is CHOCK FULL of powerful insights from bestselling author Cal Newport!
This episode is for you if:
1 - You are overwhelmed by the supposed “AI Art-pocalypse” and why this computer scientist doesn’t believe the hype (most hopeful take I have ever heard btw!).
2 - You are overwhelmed by admin like e-mail and need a different approach.
3 - You are brainsick from screen time and short form video.
4...
560 - Get Back to Passion, Ignore the Internet, Reorient to "Bad" Creative Feelings and Find Your Next Season
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co
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This episode is for you if:
1 - You struggle to find the joy in your creative practice.
2 - You’re constantly distracted by schemes to fix all your problems.
3 - You get taken out and waste time with feelings of jealous or envy and they make you want to give up.
4 - You need shift gears and reorient yourself for the new creative season you find yourself in today.
SHOW NOTES...
559 - Make Before Thinking, Sales Mode, Get Weird with It, The Opposite of Depression and MORE with Austin Kleon
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co
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This episode is for you if you need:
1 - Tactics for escaping overthinking.
2 - More fun in your creative practice.
3 - Insights on how to find your child like passion for creating again.
4 - Something unexpected to spark you!
This is a phenomenal chat with the great Austin Kleon.
The guy is full of creative wisdom and is BACK with another banger of book for creatives.
It’s...
558 - Start, Do, Finish: Get Around What's Blocking You from Doing Stuff
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co
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Most creative people don’t need help being creative.
You have the ideas. Where you trip up is the executive dysfunction. It’s getting yourself to start, middle, and finish the thing strong.
In this episode I want to share with you the number 1 things that’s helped me, a creative with MEGA ADHD, transform ideas into 10+ books, projects that lead to work with X-Box, Apple and Nickelodeon and more.
Stick around until the end for our...
557 - Finding Your Scene, IRL Creativity, the Hopeful Return of Indie / DIY with Hanif Abdurraqib
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co
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Your genius might be hiding in your backyard.
This episode is for you if:
1 - You need to find real people to collaborate with.
2 - You need to cultivate real creative connection in real life.
3 - You need hope of a more human future for creativity.
4 - You want to be inspired by a brilliant creative mind like Hanif!
I had a blast chatting face to face with the...
*FIXED SEE SHOW NOTES* 556 - Make This Shift to Reclaim Your Creative Spirit from Your Phone
This episode was initially published without the end of the story and the main point of the episode spelled out! We had one essential portion of this episode missing in the previous edit!! Thank you for those who sent me messages so that I could clear this up. I really love this episode and I am glad we fixed it!
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co
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Listen to this episode if:
1 - You are sick of trying to prove your...
555 - Overcome Dead Ends & Open Up to New Directions with Hrishikesh Hirway
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co
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This episode is for you if:
1 - You have hit a dead end and need to open up to totally new directions.
2 - You are stuck doing nothing and need a small place to start.
3 - You need to find new guidance from an outside perspective.
This is a chat with musician Hrishikesh Hirway. You may know Hirway from his phenomenal podcast “Song Exploder” or his work as a composer for the film “Co...
554 - Get Back to Creativity that Actually Helps Your Mental Health with Gemma Correll
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co
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Most of us start making things because on some level it feels good! It feels like a meditation. It brings flow. It helps us process.
But if you ever get serious about your work, you may also accidentally lose all these positives and replace them with negative side effects like pressure, anxiety, and even despair.
If you want to get back to the kind of creative practice that lifts you up instead of triggers you, this epis...
553 - Recover Sense of Self & Creative Voice with These 6 Juicy Prompts
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co
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This episode is for you if:
1 - You have been pretending to be someone else for so long that you have forgotten who you are.
2 - You want to put more of your real self into your work and need help understanding how to do that.
3 - You need some fun and unexpected exercises to get back in touch with what you really care about and who you really are.
Check out the...
552 - Listen to This if You Need Help Remembering Who You Are (Right Side Out 1 of 6) *RE-AIR*
Check out the rest of the “Right Side Out” series on it's own podcast feed here: andyjpizza.com/rso
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It’s been 2 years since we originally aired this episode.
This is part 1 of our 6 part audio memoir series “Right Side Out”.
On the surface it’s about my journey with ADHD and making peace with being “just like my mom”. But underneath, what it’s really about, is YOU. It’s about how to love yourself enough to get curious about who you are.
If you have had trouble finding your...
551 - Consume and Create Art to Get Your Brain Back with Scientist Daisy Fancourt
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co
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This episode is for you if:
1 - You’re feeling like you’ve lost the thread and your point of view as a creative.
2 - You’re fed up with consuming so much junk online and need tactics to start consuming better creative stuff that inspires you again.
3 - Need to dive deeper into the science of why your relationship with art can make all the difference to your creative practice and general wellbeing.
This...
550 - Get Back to Your Creative Path with These 3 Counterintuitive Things
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co
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Listen to this if:
1 - You feel creatively off or can’t find your creative thread at the moment
2 - You’re in a season where you’re not making as much as you want to be
3 - You feel in a low place creatively and need to remember why you care about creating
4 - You feel ill from so much doomscrolling and consuming short form video!
SHOW NOTES:
Cal Newp...
549 - This is How Sensitive Creative People Make Big Changes with Eric Zimmer
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co
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Listen if:
1 - All the habit advice doesn’t work you as an emotional creative type
2 - You are tired of fighting yourself to make the changes you want to make
3 - You need an exercise for discovering your deepest held values
If these hit home, this deep dive with author and podcaster Eric Zimmer was made for you!
SHOW NOTES:
Eric Zimmer
https://www.oneyoufeed.net/about...
548 - 5 Creative / Neurodivergent Friendly Productivity Hacks to Become a Doer
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co
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This episode is for you if:
1 - You have so many ideas but struggle to realize many of them!
2 - Most productivity advice doesn’t work for you.
3 - You need to feel excited and hopeful again about your creative practice.
SHOW NOTES:
Creative Pep Talk Ep 548 with Jarod K. Anderson
https://www.creativepeptalk.com/draft-episode-for-mar-04-2026545-make-your-life-creative-work-more-rich-with-meaning-with-jarod/
Jim Collins - Jim the Bug
https://www.jimcol...
547 - Find the Creative Voice You're Holding Back with Claire Keane
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co
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This episode is for you if:
1 - You have had a hard time tapping into your unique creative voice.
2 - You feel disempowered as a creative and feel like you need agents, managers, or talent scouts to succeed.
3 - You need help clearing out the noise in your brain and hearing your creative voice again.
This is a chat with phenomenal author-illustrator Claire Keane! We chat about her new gorgeous picture book “Who Ar...
546 - How to Transform What You're Drowning in Into High Octane Creative Fuel
This episode is for you if:
1 - You want to figure out how to put your deep personal experiences into your work, but you have never seemed to figure out how to.
2 - You are currently overwhelmed and can’t find the energy or ideas for your creative practice.
3 - You are ruminating on painful things from your life or from the state of the world, and it’s stopping you from taking action.
4 - You feel your best ideas are in the past or escaping you, and you can’t seem t...
545 - Make Your Life & Creative Work More Rich with Meaning with Jarod K. Anderson
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word!
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This episode is for you if:
1 - You need a reminder to feel how vital making personal creative work is to your life.
2 - You are a creative type or neurodivergent person needing an example of how to do lots of things well.
3 - Your soul could use some warmth and grounding!
This chat is with wonderful Poet and Author Jarod K. Anderson AKA The CryptoNaturalist!
SHOW NOTES:
Jarod K. Ande...
544 - Quit Focusing on Being Discovered and Sales and Do This Instead
You can join the Creative Pro Talk meetups by supporting the podcast on Substack here: andyjpizza.substack.com or on Patreon here: Patreon.com/creativepeptalk
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I got it wrong for so long. When I started my creative practice I thought I needed two things: 1 Get Discovered and 2 Make the Sale. I was missing the secret 3rd ingredient. In this episode we explore this secret hidden sauce and how to make it the centerpiece of your creative strategy!
SHOW NOTES:
Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co
Audi...
543 - 3 Shifts to Make if You Feel Off Creatively
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word http://invisiblethings.co
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It is VERY easy to get off balance as a creative person because creativity is a delicate balance of many things. In this episode, we will explore 3 areas that require creative tension and how to diagnose where you may be off and need a pivot.
SHOW NOTES:
Del the Funky Homosapien https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_the_Funky_Homosapien
Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co
Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones h...
542 - When to Reboot Your Work + A Better Option than Beating Yourself Up with Zak Rosen
Feeling lost on the creative journey? Download our 7 step Creative Career Path Handbooklet for FREE by signing up to our newsletter: http://andyjpizza.substack.com
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My editor Conner loved this episode, which is always a good sign!
Two reasons to listen to this:
1 - If your work feels stale or a long term project feels stuck, and you have been wondering if you need to switch it up, reboot, or pivot, this episode is for you. We talk a lot about how to navigate this with Zak Rosen, who just d...
541 - Are You Afraid of The Art? How to Get Past the Fear and Have Fun Again
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word!
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This episode is for you if:
1 - The idea of making something often feels scary.
2 - You don’t like your work anymore.
3 - You forgot why this used to be fun.
4 - You want to stand out in your field but don’t know how.
5 - You want an exercise that unlocks the flowy fun feeling part of your creative brain.
SHOW NOTES:
Stranger Things
https://en.wikip...
540 - Why the Creative Path Has to Be Twisty and Turny with Nishant Jain
Pre-Order My New Book Mysterious Things Here
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It’s so easy to forget what this is all about. If you need a reminder to embrace imperfection as part of your flavor, and rekindle your drive to just go out and make stuff you love about things you’re interested in, this is your episode!!
Guest Nishant Jain drops a billion good gems here. We talk about his sneaky public drawing practice, his inspiring philosophy around creativity and his new book “Make Sneaky Art”.
I could have talked to Nishant for another...
