Unleash Your Inner Creative with Lauren LoGrasso (A Creativity Podcast)

What happens when you challenge yourself to write 100 songs in one year? How can structure, within creativity, free you? In this episode, artist and longtime Unleash listener, Maria (aka her stage name, Monelise), shares how her year-long songwriting experiment helped her reconnect with her creative essence, release perfectionism, and merge her onstage persona with her true self.  From burnout to flow, this conversation is for any creative who’s ready to recommit to their authentic voice, get unblocked and see the limitless potential of your own creativity.From this episode, you’ll learn:-How to create flexible structure that unlocks, not stifles, creative flow-Why showing up every day (even when it’s hard) builds trust with your muse-What to look for in a creative accountability partner-What to do with unreleased creative work and how to stop seeing it as wastedMore on MoneliseUnleash is Nominated for a Webby Award and we need your help to win! Vote here: https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/shows/creativity-marketingThanks to Feedspot for naming Unleash one of the top 10 creativity podcasts: https://podcast.feedspot.com/creativity_podcasts/ 🎙️ Connect & Work with Me:If you love this episode and want personalized support to break through creative blocks, build confidence, and finally share your work with the world, I’d love to help. As a creative coach, I work with artists, entrepreneurs, and multi-passionate creatives to unleash their inner voice and build a thriving creative life from a place of self-love. ✨ Want to work together? Email me at Lauren.LoGrasso@gmail.com or visit https://www.laurenlograsso.com/contact/ to book a free 15-minute discovery call. Remember to subscribe/follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. Please leave us a rating and review- it helps SO much in getting the show out there. And tell a friend about the show- podcasts are very personal and tend to be spread person to person. If this show helped you or made you smile, share the love :)  Follow the show: @unleashyourinnercreative  Follow me: @LaurenLoGrassoHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Is there a part of your creative life you’ve put on ice? Maybe it got too painful, maybe life got too busy, maybe you felt like you failed or maybe you never even started…But when you think of your creativity and the fact that this piece isn’t in it, you know it’s not right. In this solo episode, I’m opening up about a powerful healing session that uncovered a deep creative wound, which helped me realize what had been missing from my soul. Through a surprising and emotional moment with a cherished family member, I was finally able to see the truth: I had abandoned a vital part of my artistry. This episode is all about helping you rediscover the piece of your creative self you’ve been repressing, and guiding you to bring it back into your life, in a way that feels safe, doable, and healing.If you’ve been feeling creatively off, like something’s missing or as I like to call it, “Grayed out,” you’re not alone. This is your invitation to come home to yourself.From this episode, you’ll learn:-How to identify what part of your creativity your soul is starving for-What my healing session revealed about shame and how it was controlling my voice-The importance of asking trusted loved ones what they see missing in your creativity and creative journey-How to “microdose creative courage” to build momentum and self-trust-How to use journaling, meditation, or therapy to uncover your hidden creative needsUnleash is Nominated for a Webby Award and we need your help to win! Vote here: https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/shows/creativity-marketingMore information on Liz the healer and human design reader:https://linktr.ee/lizlassig 🎙️ Connect & Work with Me:If you love this episode and want personalized support to break through creative blocks, build confidence, and finally share your work with the world, I’d love to help. As a creative coach, I work with artists, entrepreneurs, and multi-passionate creatives to unleash their inner voice and build a thriving creative life from a place of self-love. ✨ Want to work together? Email me at Lauren.LoGrasso@gmail.com or visit https://www.laurenlograsso.com/contact/ to book a free 15-minute discovery call. Remember to subscribe/follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. Please leave us a rating and review- it helps SO much in getting the show out there. And tell a friend about the show- podcasts are very personal and tend to be spread person to person. If this show helped you or made you smile, share the love :)  Follow the show: @unleashyourinnercreative  Follow me: @LaurenLoGrassoHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Have you ever felt disconnected from your body—or grieved the version of it you used to know? I have. And in this episode of Unleash Your Inner Creative, I’m talking with disability advocate and author Jayne Mattingly about something we don’t hear enough about: body grief, and how it can quietly block our creativity and self-love.Here’s what I’ve come to realize: when we lose trust in our bodies, we often lose connection to ourselves and therefore our creative voice. But when we start rebuilding that trust—even slowly—we open the door to healing, peace, and creative freedom.Jayne created a powerful framework to help us understand and move through body grief, and in this episode, she shares her story, how it applies to you, and how getting into a relationship with your body can shift everything—from how you heal to how you create.From this episode, you’ll learn:-What body grief is and how to recognize it in your own life-The 7 stages of body grief and how to move through them-How to begin rebuilding trust with your body—at any stage-Why healing your relationship with your body can unlock your creativityTW: Eating Disorders and Mental Health More on JayneUnleash is Nominated for a Webby Award and we need your help to win! Vote here: https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/shows/creativity-marketing ✨ Want personalized support to reconnect with your creativity yourself and share your work with the world? I’m a creative coach who helps artists, entrepreneurs, and multi-passionate creatives move through self-doubt and unleash their authentic voice.📩 Reach out for a free discovery call at Lauren.LoGrasso@gmail.com or visit https://www.laurenlograsso.com/contact/ -Remember to subscribe/follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. Please leave us a rating and review- it helps SO much in getting the show out there. And tell a friend about the show- podcasts are very personal and tend to be spread person to person. If this show helped you or made you smile, share the love :)  Follow the show: @unleashyourinnercreative  Follow me: @LaurenLoGrassoHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Hi Creative. As you may have seen, last week was a very scary week for me. My Dad, who I am extremely close to, was in the ICU for a subdural hematoma. At some point, I will tell the full story, but for today, I am sharing just a little behind the scenes of what has been going on, as well as resharing one of my favorite episodes in honor of my Dad. Please keep him in your prayers and good thoughts for a full recovery. I appreciate you. Original Description: Ciao, Creativo🇮🇹✨! Today I'm going to take you inside my deeply joyful and emotional journey back to Sicily. On this trip I reconnected with my ancestral roots and got to introduce my parents to our long-lost relatives (first cousins) after over seven decades. Throughout the episode, you'll hear me delve into the cultural lessons gleaned from my Sicilian ancestry, the formative role family has played in shaping my creativity, why I actually love language barriers and even some funny takeaways about Sicilan food and culture. We will also explore why your ancestry is a rich resource for creative inspiration and talk through how YOU can better understand yourself through addressing familial and generational grief. Hope you love it! Strap in for a Sicilan Adventure 🍝Chapters: 00:04Introduction and Ancestral Journey00:23The Importance of Knowing Your Roots01:02The Privilege of Knowing Your Ancestry02:12The Role of Family in Creativity02:26The Power of Finding YOUR Creative Topic 04:29My Sicilian Origin Story06:31The Unexpected Family ReunionS10:04The Emotional Impact of Meeting Family13:31The Trip to Sicily: A Homecoming15:41The Healing Power of Family Connection25:17The Role of Creativity in Sicilian Culture40:53The Grief of Losing Cultural Roots55:09The Miracle of Sicily Jo Ann 59:15Michelin Stars Are Overrated + I HATE Small Foods01:00:37 The Uniqueness of Italian Culture01:03:21The Healing Power of Ancestral Connection01:06:12The Importance of Family in Creative Expression-Remember to subscribe/follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. Please leave us a rating and review- it helps SO much in getting the show out there. And tell a friend about the show- podcasts are very personal and tend to be spread person to person. If this show helped you or made you smile, share the love :)  Follow the show: @unleashyourinnercreative  Follow me: @LaurenLoGrassoHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Are you feeling stuck, torn between two (or more) options, and unsure which path to take? Whether it’s a major life decision or something as simple as choosing what to eat for dinner, I’ve got you.In today’s solo episode, I’m sharing my foolproof, go-to decision-making trick that has never led me astray. This simple yet powerful tool helps you tune into your body’s natural wisdom, so you can ditch overthinking, trust your intuition, and make the right choice—instantly.🔹 From this episode, you’ll learn:-How to drop from your head into your body to access true clarity-A simple method to tell whether a decision is right for you—without second-guessing-Why logical pros & cons lists will only take you so far (and what actually works)-A guided visualization exercise to help you apply this method to a real decision in your lifeIf you’ve been stuck in indecision, this episode will change the way you make choices forever.🎙️ Connect & Work with Me: If you love this episode and want personalized support to break through creative blocks, build confidence, and finally share your work with the world, I’d love to help. As a creative coach, I work with artists, entrepreneurs, and multi-passionate creatives to unleash their inner voice and build a thriving creative life from a place of self-love. ✨ Want to work together? Email me at Lauren.LoGrasso@gmail.com or visit https://www.laurenlograsso.com/contact/ to book a free 15-minute discovery call.-Remember to subscribe/follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. Please leave us a rating and review- it helps SO much in getting the show out there. And tell a friend about the show- podcasts are very personal and tend to be spread person to person. If this show helped you or made you smile, share the love :)  Follow the show: @unleashyourinnercreative  Follow me: @LaurenLoGrassoHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What if healing after trauma wasn’t just about survival—but about creativity, reclamation, and transformation? Today’s guest, Marlee Liss, is living proof that healing can look radically different than what we’ve been taught. After experiencing sexual violence, she was thrown into the justice system and quickly realized something: the traditional punitive approach wasn’t leading to healing—it was retraumatizing. So, she did something groundbreaking.Marlee became the first person in North America to advocate for and successfully secure a court-ordered restorative justice process, requiring her assailant to undergo mandated therapy instead of incarceration. Through this process, she proved that true justice isn’t always about punishment—it can be about deep, lasting accountability, healing, and even transformation.This is the second episode in my series on using creativity to change the world—because creativity isn’t just for art. It’s for how we think, how we heal, and how we rebuild broken systems.✨ From this conversation, you’ll learn:The radical question that changed everything for Marlee—and how it can change your life, tooWhy the justice system often fails survivors—and what a real, healing alternative looks likeHow creativity can be used to solve even the world’s toughest problemsThe surprising key to true healing: reclaiming joy, pleasure, and personal freedom-Remember to subscribe/follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. Please leave us a rating and review- it helps SO much in getting the show out there. And tell a friend about the show- podcasts are very personal and tend to be spread person to person. If this show helped you or made you smile, share the love :)  Follow the show: @unleashyourinnercreative  Follow me: @LaurenLoGrassoHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Hi, creative cutie, as you know, I've been very open and honest about my journey with codependency on the show: my struggles with it, my healing from it, my trying to understand it...In 2022, I was lucky enough to have Melody Beattie author of Codependent No More on the podcast. A couple days ago, Melody's daughter Nichole Beattie posted on her socials sharing that her mother had passed away on February 27th at 10pm. So today, in memory of Melody, and her world-altering and life-changing work, I am resharing our episode. Thank you, Melody, your work changed my life, It helped so many people heal....And it's going to continue to do that for years to come. May you rest in peace and may your work live on forever--teaching all of us to release our shame and to love ourselves at least as much as we love others. Original Description:Today’s guest is Melody Beattie. She’s a New York Times Best Selling Author known for titles such as The Language of Letting Go, Playing It by Heart, The Grief Club, Beyond Codependency, and her most famous book, Codependent No More-which just came out with a revised and updated edition that you should check out! Codependent No More, has sold over 7 million copies since its release in 1986. Melody is a true pioneer in this field and has helped millions find healing. Her work has changed my life, and it might just change yours, too!From our chat you’ll learn:-The true meaning of codependency and whether you might be codependent-How to heal codependency through creativity-What it REALLY even means to love yourself -How to not turn on yourself when you're disappointed-How to trust the creative process--even if it takes YEARS!-Why Codependent No More IS Actually a romance novel-Plus never-before-heard insight into Melody’s creative process and how she birthed the original Codependent No More!-And More! Check out Melody's work and get her new edition of Codependent No More here: https://melodybeattie.com/ -Remember to subscribe/follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. Please leave us a rating and review- it helps SO much in getting the show out there. And tell a friend about the show- podcasts are very personal and tend to be spread person to person. If this show helped you or made you smile, share the love :)  Follow the show: @unleashyourinnercreative  Follow me: @LaurenLoGrassoHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

BOO! I’m the ghost of your creative past, and I have one question for you: Do you have unfinished projects haunting you in creative purgatory? What if I told you they're the KEY to getting Unstuck?Have you ever abandoned a creative project, only to forget it existed? What if your best idea is already sitting in your notes, voice memos, or sketchbook—unfinished, unseen, and full of potential?In this episode, I take you inside my own creative ‘graveyard’—a place filled with forgotten voice memos and half-finished songs. What I found completely shocked and inspired me… and it might do the same for you.🎙️ In this episode, you’ll learn:✅ Why creatives abandon work—and how to reclaim it✅ The emotional power of revisiting old projects✅ How I rediscovered hidden creative gold in my old voice memos✅ A step-by-step challenge to reconnect with your past creative self✅ How this process can help you get unstuck, inspired, and back in flowThis is your sign to stop overlooking your old work—your next big creative breakthrough could already be written.✨ Ready for the challenge? Hit play and let’s take a journey through creative purgatory together.-Remember to subscribe/follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. Please leave us a rating and review- it helps SO much in getting the show out there. And tell a friend about the show- podcasts are very personal and tend to be spread person to person. If this show helped you or made you smile, share the love :)  Follow the show: @unleashyourinnercreative  Follow me: @LaurenLoGrassoHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What would you do if climate change threatened your home? That’s the reality I faced during the devastating California wildfires—an experience that changed my entire perspective on the climate crisis and our role in it. I realized that climate change isn’t just about the environment—it’s about our safety, our homes, our families, and our future. It’s a human issue. And while it can feel overwhelming, there are ways to fight back—and creativity might just be our greatest tool.So, I’m kicking off a brand-new series on Unleash Your Inner Creative—all about using creativity to solve the world’s biggest issues. And we’re starting with climate change.Today’s guest is Patrick Murphy, a climate expert, nonprofit leader, and a dear friend. He’s here to break down where we’re really at with the climate crisis, why you should care, and the practical steps you can take to make a difference—creatively.From This Episode, You’ll Learn:-Why climate change is one of the greatest human rights issues of our time—and how it impacts racism, classism, and inequality.-How the California wildfires + my love for people woke me up to the climate crisis.-Why creativity is a powerful tool in the fight against climate change—and how you can use it-Practical, doable steps you can take today to help the planet and your community.-How to stay hopeful + resilient in the face of climate anxiety.Support Patrick’s Work: -Learn about Delta Institute - https://delta-institute.org/-Donate to upcoming event in Chicago he’s organizing: https://delta-institute.org/event/green-soapbox-climate-refugees/-Check out his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickmurphy09/-Click HERE to get a long list of resources and information Pat mentioned.On Pat: Patrick T. Murphy serves as the Director for Donor Stewardship at Delta Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that collaborates with communities to solve complex environmental challenges. He is an Advanced Certified Nonprofit Professional as accredited by the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and has 15 years of experience in fundraising and marketing for nonprofits. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Adler University.-Remember to subscribe/follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. Please leave us a rating and review- it helps SO much in getting the show out there. And tell a friend about the show- podcasts are very personal and tend to be spread person to person. If this show helped you or made you smile, share the love :)  Follow the show: @unleashyourinnercreative  Follow me: @LaurenLoGrassoHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Have you ever felt creatively empty—like your spark is just gone? What if I told you that you actually have way more creativity inside you than you realize, but you just haven’t tapped into it yet?In this episode, I had an unexpected moment of inspiration (let’s just say it involved water… and a mess 😅). That moment made me realize something huge about creativity—something that might just change the way you see yourself as a creator.✨ From this episode, you’ll learn:-How to knock over your own creative glass and unleash what’s hiding inside you-The surprising ways constraints and challenges bring out your best ideas-Small but powerful shifts to unlock your creativity (even when you feel stuck)-Why messiness and imperfection are essential to the creative process-How to turn pain, boredom, and even burnout into your next big breakthroughYour creativity is waiting for you—it’s time to let it flow. 💡Want to work with me as your creative coach? Book a free discovery call by emailing me at lauren.lograsso@gmail.com or on my website under the coaching tab :) -Remember to subscribe/follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. Please leave us a rating and review- it helps SO much in getting the show out there. And tell a friend about the show- podcasts are very personal and tend to be spread person to person. If this show helped you or made you smile, share the love :)  Follow the show: @unleashyourinnercreative  Follow me: @LaurenLoGrassoHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.