Create Out Loud With Jennifer Louden

Annie Murphy Paul is one of the most interesting and acclaimed scientist writers working today, and her most recent book, The Extended Mind, may just fundamentally shift your relationship with your creativity and your brain forever. The Extended Mind is all about how our minds are not brain bound and by understanding all the ways we can - and must! - extend our minds, we can learn to work with the challenges of modern life that are so thinking heavy in entirely new ways. Hints: it's good to fidget! The spaces you work in affect how you think! Your brain needs nature. And so much more. In this episode, we discuss: - The myth of our "brain" being our "mind." - How movement and space affect the way we think - How to optimize our creativity with practical strategies - Why grit and the growth mindset aren't enough - Why our brain is NOT a computer Get a copy of Annie's book here!: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FKB3V5S/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0 Visit https://jenniferlouden.com/podcastkit/ to get instant access to a collection of audios that will: help you with some of the most common struggles we creatives have to manage including fear of choosing, falling into compare and despair, managing the inner critic (s), and feeling too exposed and vulnerable when you put yourself or your work into the world. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jennifer-louden/support

How often do we sit down to face the blank page or canvas, only to get crippled by the paralyzing critic: "You can't do this, you're not good enough....WHY BOTHER?" What if, instead, you told yourself, "keep going, you've got this, your voice matters." This is the self-compassionate approach to creativity, and it's essential to your success. But some days, you need more. That’s where Kristen Neff’s work on fierce self-compassion comes in. Kristin Neff is the pioneer researcher of self-compassion and she has spent the last years studying how women can combine fierceness with self-compassion, which many of us have been in-cultured to reject. Listen in as we talk about: - What fierce self-compassion is and what it isn’t - How it can help your creative process and your social justice work in the world - Why accepting all of ourselves is important for the creative process - The difference between "self-compassion" and "being nice" - The physiological upside to fierce self-compassion - What to do when you aren’t creating regularly Visit https://jenniferlouden.com/podcastkit/ to get instant access to a collection of audios that will: help you with some of the most common struggles we creatives have to manage including fear of choosing, falling into compare and despair, managing the inner critic (s), and feeling too exposed and vulnerable when you put yourself or your work into the world. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jennifer-louden/support

From the outside, Grace Harry looked like she was living a dream life. A top executive at Def Jam records, married to Usher, hobnobbing with some of the world's most powerful voices in arts and culture, Grace was a powerhouse of creative collaboration and making music happen. But she wasn't happy. Deep down, she wasn't listening to her desires. Gracereinvented her life, leaving behind much of what made her well-known and paid the bills, and she makes her living as a "Joy Strategist." It may sound "woo-woo," but after talking to Grace, you will see how creating intention around what brings us joy is essential. In this episode, we also discuss: How connecting to our childhood can give us a barometer for our creative future How to connect to our inner desires and inner dialogue Why we need to “feel it to heal it” How our spiritual life connects to our creative life. How to transform victim power into creative power How to transform people-pleasing Visit https://jenniferlouden.com/podcastkit/ to get instant access to a collection of audios that will: help you with some of the most common struggles we creatives have to manage including fear of choosing, falling into compare and despair, managing the inner critic (s), and feeling too exposed and vulnerable when you put yourself or your work into the world. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jennifer-louden/support

Elizabeth Hargrave is one of the world's most respected tabletop game designers, and her bestselling, award-winning board game "Wingspan" came out of a simple desire: she was tired of playing games that wasn't about trolls, castles, and zombies. So guess what? She created her own, and it's about ornithology. Yep, birds. There is so much to learn about this act of defiance. If we yearn for something, chances are, MANY people do too. Elizabeth has since published three games and she's built a beautiful community around her work. We also discussed: - Why creating board games is inherently vulnerable (and what we can learn from that) - Why all notes are valuable if we search for "the note under the note" - How we can use our creative passions to champion social justice - How to champion minority voices in your creative field Enjoy The Show! Visit https://jenniferlouden.com/podcastkit/ to get instant access to a collection of audios that will: help you with some of the most common struggles we creatives have to manage including fear of choosing, falling into compare and despair, managing the inner critic (s), and feeling too exposed and vulnerable when you put yourself or your work into the world. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jennifer-louden/support

Have you ever been told to "everything happens for a reason" or "things will get better in time" when something truly awful has happened to you? Singer/songwriter and author of How to Lose Everything Christa Couture can relate. Christa has an advanced degree in loss: the loss of her leg to cancer as a child, the lost of two children in their infancy, the loss of a marriage, and temporarily, her voice to thyroid cancer. How she could possibly be creative after such life-shattering tragedy? That's what we explore in this grace-filled conversation. We also discussed: - How to take the leap into our work when we're feeling blocked. - How Christa turned her amputation into art - Christa's philosophies on "person-first" language around disability - Her brief stint in film school - How she channels her indigenous roots into her creative and spiritual life Christa's book HOW TO LOSE EVERYTHING can be found anywhere books are sold: https://www.amazon.com/How-Lose-Everything-Children-Marriage-ebook/dp/B08G4ZSWWT#:~:text=Amazon%20Book%20Clubs-,How%20to%20Lose%20Everything%3A%20A%20Memoir%20about%20Losing%20My%20Children,and%20My%20Voice%20Kindle%20Edition&text=Christa%20Couture%20has%20come%20to,a%20powerful%20and%20wise%20emotion Check Out My Creativity Ebook!: https://jenniferlouden.com/desire/ Visit https://jenniferlouden.com/podcastkit/ to get instant access to a collection of audios that will: help you with some of the most common struggles we creatives have to manage including fear of choosing, falling into compare and despair, managing the inner critic (s), and feeling too exposed and vulnerable when you put yourself or your work into the world. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jennifer-louden/support

Do you feel like it's too late for your creative desires? For Angeline Boulley, her first major creative success came in her mid-50s, with her debut novel The Firekeeper's Daughter. In addition to debuting at #1 on the New York Times, being optioned by the Obama's for a Netflix TV adaptation, and being chosen for Reese Witherspoon's book club, the novel is celebrated for its honest and multi-layered portrayal of modern indigenous life. How did Angeline become such a literary lightning rod, especially at an age where many may given up? She trusted herself. She trusted her artistic voice, the long journey it took, and never let "time anxiety" get the best of her. Instead, she trusted herself to create the art that would be born when it was ready. If you're feeling stuck, or like it's too late, or you are too old, or are anyway wondering "why bother?" This is the conversation for you! Visit https://jenniferlouden.com/podcastkit/ to get instant access to a collection of audios that will: help you with some of the most common struggles we creatives have to manage including fear of choosing, falling into compare and despair, managing the inner critic (s), and feeling too exposed and vulnerable when you put yourself or your work into the world. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jennifer-louden/support

Morgan Harper Nichols wears many creative hats beautifully - poet, author, musician, self-taught illustrator, and entrepreneur. And like most of my guests, she has walked a wild and twisty road to find her current creative success. After struggling as a touring musician and freelancer, Morgan channeled her "hitting the bottom" moment into illustrated poetry that was an immediate surprise hit with girls and young women. Even though it wasn't her "immediate plan" for her creative life, she listened to what was happening, followed it, built on it, and is now one of Instagram's most popular illustrated creators. Morgan's work resonates strongly with adolescent girls - so why was her immediate reaction to turn away from that audiencece? And when did Morgan start to earn a great living and support her family? We cover that and lots more! But what's most delightful about this episode is Morgan's heart. Get ready to fall in love with how Morgan Harper Nichols creates out loud! Visit https://jenniferlouden.com/podcastkit/ to get instant access to a collection of audios that will: help you with some of the most common struggles we creatives have to manage including fear of choosing, falling into compare and despair, managing the inner critic (s), and feeling too exposed and vulnerable when you put yourself or your work into the world. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jennifer-louden/support

What would it take for you to turn down an offer from JJ Abrams (you know the guy who created Lost among other block-busters)? Ask Meg LeFavue, the Oscar-nominated writer of Inside Out, who had to do just that after committing to her creative calling to become a screenwriter. Meg LeFauve and her frequent writing partner and podcast co-host Lorien McKenna get extremely candid about the challenges and essential importance of committing to your artistic path and sticking with it. Listen in as we discuss questions around creative time management, balancing multiple creative projects, when and how to send out drafts of your work, how to take notes, and why failure is an essential part of the creative process. I hope you'll get as much out of this conversation as I did. What these tenacious creators said changed my view of writing and creating in a big wonderful way! Visit https://jenniferlouden.com/podcastkit/ to get instant access to a collection of audios that will: help you with some of the most common struggles we creatives have to manage including fear of choosing, falling into compare and despair, managing the inner critic (s), and feeling too exposed and vulnerable when you put yourself or your work into the world. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jennifer-louden/support

Anne-Laure Le Cunff is an entrepreneur, and an ex-Googler turned neuroscience student who is leading the conversation around creative anxiety, mental wellness in our modern age, the delicate balance between productivity and creativity, and how we can use technology to make the world better. In today's amazing conversation, we talk releasing ourselves from the pressure or time anxiety, how to align our creative desires with our professional goals, and yes, even how to make money as a creative. Visit https://jenniferlouden.com/podcastkit/ to get instant access to a collection of audios that will: help you with some of the most common struggles we creatives have to manage including fear of choosing, falling into compare and despair, managing the inner critic (s), and feeling too exposed and vulnerable when you put yourself or your work into the world. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jennifer-louden/support

If anyone understands "creative Rock Bottom," it's Award-winning singer-songwriter Rissi Palmer. After a top-charting, well-received debut album, Rissi entered a vicious court battle with her label, leading her to bankruptcy. After the heartbreak of seeing her own music video playing in the record store at the mall across from the retail store where she was working, Rissi knew it was time to take matters into her own hands. Rissi committed to creating out loud on her OWN terms. Now Rissi is one of country music's most important voices, not only with her music, but her activism in the community. Her partnership with Apple Music lifts BIPOC voices in the music community through her radio show "Color Me Country." I hope Rissi will inspire you to choose yourself lie she did me. Visit https://jenniferlouden.com/podcastkit/ to get instant access to a collection of audios that will: help you with some of the most common struggles we creatives have to manage including fear of choosing, falling into compare and despair, managing the inner critic (s), and feeling too exposed and vulnerable when you put yourself or your work into the world. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jennifer-louden/support