The Daily Stoic

Austin Kleon on Fueling Artistic Ambition

Feb 26, 2025

Austin Kleon, a renowned writer and artist known for his bestselling books, dives into the nuances of creativity with Ryan. He discusses the importance of hobbies in fueling artistic ambition and reflects on how societal pressures can make us feel machine-like. The conversation highlights the evolution of music as a communal experience, the challenges of modern creative expression, and the complexities of fame. Kleon also shares insights on engaging children through storytelling, emphasizing playfulness in nurturing a love for art and literature.

01:00:47

Episode guests

Austin Kleon

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Austin Kleon emphasizes that consistent creative practice, regardless of external validation, nurtures both the artist and their audience.

The podcast highlights the therapeutic impact of engaging in hobbies and artistic activities, promoting personal growth and emotional management.

Addressing modern pressures, the discussion advises creatives to separate their self-worth from societal expectations to maintain their authentic artistic vision.

Deep dives

The Importance of Starting Therapy

Deciding to start therapy can be one of the most challenging parts of the process. This podcast emphasizes how services like Talkspace streamline this journey, making therapy more accessible and user-friendly. The platform offers personalized treatment plans and the convenience of online sessions, allowing users to connect with their therapists anytime. This approach breaks down barriers to mental health support, encouraging those in need to take the crucial first step toward well-being.

Intro

2min

The Importance of Showing Up in Artistic Endeavors

3min

The Art of Living and Creating

17min

Authenticity and Influence in Music History

3min

The Evolution of Music and Creativity

17min

The Challenge of Artistic Ambition and Effective Hiring

2min

The Pursuit of Authenticity in Fame and Literature

20min

Creative Parenting: Engaging Kids Through Story and Play

3min

Austin Kleon joins Ryan to talk about unleashing creative energy, the power of hobbies, and why he believes we’ve been trained to be machine-like in today’s world. Austin talks about the driving force behind ambition, the culture of "cheap talk," and much more.

Austin Kleon is a writer, author, artist, speaker, and blogger. He is most known for his five New York Times bestselling books Steal Like An Artist:10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative, Show Your Work!, Keep Going, Steal Like An Artist Journal, and Newspaper Blackout.

You can follow his work at austinkleon.com, Instagram @austinkleon, and Twitter @austinkleon.

📚 Grab signed copies of Austin Kleon’s books, Steal Like An Artist:10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative, Show Your Work!, Keep Going, at The Painted Porch: https://www.thepaintedporch.com/

🎥 Check out Austin Kleon's previous episode with Ryan Holiday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cniB5Wa0jV0

🎙️ Follow The Daily Stoic Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dailystoicpodcast

🎥 Watch top moments from The Daily Stoic Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dailystoicpodcast

✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail

🏛 Get Stoic inspired books, medallions, and prints to remember these lessons at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store.dailystoic.com/

📱 Follow us: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.