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

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.

Are you constantly stressed, overwhelmed, or running on empty?  In today’s episode, I sit down with Nahid de Belgeonne, a renowned somatic movement and nervous system expert, to uncover why we’re all stuck in survival mode—and how to break free. If you’re feeling wired but tired, creatively blocked, or stuck in the cycle of hustle culture, this episode is for you. Nahid, known as the "nervous system whisperer," is the founder of The Human Method and the author of Soothe: Restoring Your Nervous System from Stress, Anxiety, Burnout, and Trauma. Her work has helped high achievers, creatives, and professionals learn how to regulate their emotions, release stress, and reconnect with their bodies. Nahid shares practical, science-backed tools to reset your nervous system, reclaim your energy, and stop operating like a machine.From this episode, you’ll learn:-How stress, anxiety & trauma rewire your nervous system—and what to do about it-The fastest way to calm your nervous system using breath & movement-Why most stress relief methods don’t work—and what actually does-The secret to regulating emotions daily (in just a few minutes)This conversation will help you stop pushing, start listening to your body, and finally find sustainable peace. 🎧 Tune in now to start calming your nervous system & escaping burnout!-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: @LaurenLoGrassoBook a free creative coaching consult by filling out this form: https://www.laurenlograsso.com/contactHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

When life feels chaotic, how do you hold onto your creativity? After living through the LA fires, I’ve been reflecting on how to keep creating during difficult times—and today, I’m sharing the exact tools that have helped me navigate fear, uncertainty, and emotional exhaustion.In this deeply personal episode of Unleash Your Inner Creative, I break down how to stabilize yourself, calm your nervous system, and reconnect with your creative spark—even when life feels overwhelming. Whether you’re dealing with personal challenges, burnout, or collective trauma, these insights will help you move forward with more peace, resilience, and creative clarity.✨ In this episode, you’ll Learn:-How to protect your energy & find emotional stability before creating-The unexpected link between self-compassion and creative breakthroughs-Why staying off your phone (especially in the morning) can reignite your creativity-How to nurture yourself like a toddler (yes, really!) to regain creative momentum-How to turn pain into purpose and use creativity to heal yourself and othersIf you’ve ever struggled to create during a difficult time—or found yourself creatively blocked after a tough season—this episode will remind you that your creativity is always there and can be a powerful tool for healing. 🎧 Tune in now to learn how to create, even when life feels impossible.-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: @LaurenLoGrassoSome Guided Meditations I like: -Protection Meditation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXXeN49sQZA -Chakra Balancing Meditation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReawG6MxLo8&list=PL5wU2sSCequLJM3PTeyOTCraI10qjSI5B&index=4 -Self-Image Meditation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7dEiclZP60&t=567s -Abraham Hicks Rampage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP_5TC9bDJk&t=346s -Self-Love Meditation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFeCUfw657g Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What if the key to peace is letting go of who you think you’re supposed to be? In this episode of Unleash, I sit down with Tom Rosshirt—former White House speechwriter, storyteller, and wisdom-seeker—to explore the journey of releasing fear, breaking free from self-imposed limits, and finding harmony with your true self.Tom shares profound insights on embracing your shadow, the importance of acceptance, and how to transform pain into healing. Whether you’re feeling stuck, sick, wrestling with fear, or searching for deeper meaning, this conversation will give you the tools and inspiration to move forward with clarity and compassion.✨ From this episode, you’ll learn:-How fear disguises itself as control—and the surprising freedom in surrender-The profound power of embracing your shadow and integrating all parts of yourself-Why self-image can be a prison—and how to break free from it-How healing your mind can lead to complete physical healingTom’s words will inspire you to reimagine your relationship with fear and embrace the fullness of who you are. This episode is packed with actionable wisdom and heartfelt moments that will resonate long after you’ve listened.Get Tom's Book, Chasing Peace Here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/720002/chasing-peace-by-tom-rosshirt/ If you're interested in hiring me as a creative coach, click here: https://www.laurenlograsso.com/coaching-opt-2 -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.