Creative Pep Talk

Feeling lost on the creative journey? Download our 7 step Creative Career Path Handbooklet for FREE by signing up to our newsletter here: andyjpizza.substack.com --- Are you overwhelmed pretty much no matter what you do? Are you overwhelmed by long to do lists? Short ones? Complex and simple ones? In this episode I will share a recent shift that has made a big impact on me that resulted in me feeling less overwhelmed and more able to be creatively productive. SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.coAudio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.coSoundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com John Cleese on Creativity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvKeu46jgwo Cal Newport https://calnewport.com SPONSORS:SQUARESPACEHead to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feel like things have changed or are always changing? Do you find yourself changing yourself to fit? Where do you really want to be? In this episode I am joined by artist and author, Morgan Harper Nichols. We discuss envisioning a future for yourself that you actually want to go towards and how to find the right creative home within all the possibilities. https://morganharpernichols.com ------ Feeling lost on the creative journey? Download our 7 step Creative Career Path Handbooklet for FREE by signing up to our newsletter here: andyjpizza.substack.com   SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.coSoundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com SPONSORS:SQUARESPACEHead to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feeling lost on the creative journey? Download our 7 step Creative Career Path Handbooklet for FREE by signing up to our newsletter here: andyjpizza.substack.com  If you THINK more about making stuff than actually making stuff, this episode is for you! I tell a story that helped me realize that going the right way is overrated and what to do instead. SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com War of Art by Stephen Pressfield https://stevenpressfield.com/books/the-war-of-art/ Cal Newport Deep Work https://calnewport.com/writing/ Christopher Vogler The Writers Journey https://mwp.com/product/writers-journey-25th-anniversary-edition-mythic-structure-writers/ Brian McDonald Invisible Ink https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/invisible-ink-stewart-stern/1146054340 SPONSORS: SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% of

How do you develop discipline as an artist? Can you hack your behavior and form creative habits? What tips or tricks could help you to create more often AND more confidently? In this episode I'm joined by Eisner Award winning cartoonist Sophie Yanow. Sophie has so much insight on this topic and found great value in creating what she calls a 'Gentle Comics Habit'. We talk starting, stacking and bundling habits and what it all achieved. If you'd like to join in, use the hashtag #gentlecomicshabit ! Discuss this episode, share creative wins and obstacles at our next monthly meetup! Join this month’s Creative Pep Rally by supporting the show on Substack or Patreon: andyjpizza.substack.com https://www.patreon.com/c/creativepeptalk Photo credit: Michael Worful SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com https://www.sophi

Discuss this episode, share creative wins and obstacles at our next monthly meetup! Join this month’s Creative Pep Rally by supporting the show on Substack or Patreon: andyjpizza.substack.com https://www.patreon.com/c/creativepeptalk If you’re like me, you have more trouble with following through with ideas than you do coming up with new ideas. I am a serial quitter. I have ADHD and I am often working on 5 things at once. BUT. In this episode I want to share 5 things that have helped me stay consistent long enough to make 500 episodes of the same podcast, publish over 10 books and work with clients like X-Box, Nickelodeon and Apple over the past 15 years. This episode ends with a CALL TO ADVENTURE called “MAKE SUM-THING OF YOURSELF”. This action is something you can do in an instant, that in my experience INSTANTLY increases your ability to follow through and achieve what you set out to achieve. SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jone

Discuss this episode, share creative wins and obstacles at our next monthly meetup! Join this month’s Creative Pep Rally by supporting the show on Substack or Patreon: andyjpizza.substack.com https://www.patreon.com/c/creativepeptalk On this Ask Dr. Pizza episode we hear from 3 artists in totally different creative pitfalls and explore what action you can take to get past each of them! This episode is for you if: 1 - You don’t have enough time and space to create the art you want 2 - You’re afraid of what will happen if you share your work 3 - You know what to do next but it requires leaving your creative comfort zone SHOW NOTES Andy J. Pizza Skillshare Style Class (Affiliate Link) https://skl.sh/4gMGVfW  Michael Hyatt https://fullfocus.co/rebrand/ Ryan Holiday https://ryanholiday.net Indie Rock coloring book https://www.hpb.com/indie-rock-coloring-book/P-4791738-USED.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=HPB_PMAX_ECOM&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAoO5LlWHVc8SkPz24bfhlHlv9iXRN&gclid=Cj0KCQjwna6_B

Join our January Virtual Pep Rally by supporting on Substack or Patreon! andyjpizza.substack.com https://www.patreon.com/c/creativepeptalk Do you feel like you’ve lost your way a bit creatively? Maybe you feel lost or in a creative rut. Today on the show we chat with Artist / Actor / YouTuber Cheyenne Barton about a recent creative crisis and we find some aha moments along the way! Loved this episode! SHOW NOTES: Cheyenne Barton https://cheyennebarton.com  https://www.youtube.com/user/cheyennebarton Nat Andrewson https://www.natalieandrewson.com Ghostshrimp https://www.ghostshrimpglobal.com The Artist’s Way https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Artist%27s_Way  Missing Link https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6348138/ Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com SPONSORS: SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purch

Join our January Virtual Pep Rally by supporting on Substack or Patreon! andyjpizza.substack.com https://www.patreon.com/c/creativepeptalk Some people say that creativity is all about perfect timing, but in my experience, the best work comes from those spaces where you lose track of time completely. If TIME has become a brutal master and “staying relevant”, “hitting the cultural zeitgeist”, “keeping up with the times”, “missing your chance” or even “posting at the perfect time” has taken all of the joy out of your practice, this episode is for you! In this episode you will:1 - Identify when you are your most creative self.2 - Uncover what your natural ideas look like when they show up3 - Get homework on how to lose yourself in creative work again today! - - - SHOW NOTES - - - Whole Brain Living by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Brain-Living-Anatomy-Characters/dp/1401961983 Chris Martin of Coldplay on Pete Holmes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chris-martin/id475878118?i=100053466

Go to http://andyjpizza.substack.com to sign up to our newsletter and get the “Passion Mastery Table” download mentioned in this episode. If you feel like you have to do everything but none of it actually works, listen to this. We are in the midst of outrageous chaos and change. The last thing you need to be doing is focusing on what doesn’t matter in your creative practice. In this episode, you will get a tool for organizing your efforts in such a way that you can find clarity in what to focus on and what to let loose. Join our January Virtual Pep Rally by supporting on Substack or Patreon! andyjpizza.substack.com https://www.patreon.com/c/creativepeptalk SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com SPONSORS: SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPT

Are you in survival mode? Do you feel like something is failing, broken, wrong? In this episode I talk through 3 things that help me when I'm feeling lost on the Creative Journey. Join our next Virtual Pep Rally by supporting on Substack or Patreon! andyjpizza.substack.com https://www.patreon.com/c/creativepeptalk SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com Mentioned/Referenced: Andy Mineo LOST EP Song 'Clarity' Oak Island tv show SPONSORS: SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join our January Virtual Pep Rally by supporting on Substack or Patreon! andyjpizza.substack.com https://www.patreon.com/c/creativepeptalk Special edition of Ask Dr. Pizza! Mega creative, long time listener Jen Kwok asks Andy questions around navigating transitions, parenting as a creative, getting stuff done and the key to keep longer projects interesting. SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com Jen Kwok https://www.jenkwok.com SPONSORS: SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join our January Virtual Pep Rally by supporting on Substack or Patreon! andyjpizza.substack.com https://www.patreon.com/c/creativepeptalk Has an unexpected life event ever derailed your creative journey?  When I reached out to illustrator Rebecca Green to join me on the podcast for the second time, she graciously volunteered to speak about a tragedy she had experienced in recent years, that brought her life to a complete stand still. Join us for a deeply vulnerable and inspiring conversation about this artist’s journey from grief to renewed creativity. Content Warning: this episode contains a conversation around the death of an infant. SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com Rebecca Green https://www.myblankpaper.com  Rebecca’s blog: https://www.myblankpaper.com/blog Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C

Join our January Virtual Pep Rally by supporting on Substack or Patreon! andyjpizza.substack.com https://www.patreon.com/c/creativepeptalk Things change fast these days. If I started my creative practice in 2025 I would do things very differently than when I started out over 15 years ago. Tune into this episode to hear the 7 sequential steps I would take if I was starting out today. SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com   SPONSORS: SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What should you focus your creative energy towards right now? It helps to tune into the creative stage you’re currently in. Today on the show we chat with Illustrator Chris Piascik about how he went from a daily drawing practice to shifting gears and focusing on building his YouTube to nearly 100k subscribers. If you’re feeling out of sync with your creative season or need inspo for reigniting your personal work, this episode is for you! Join our January Virtual Pep Rally by supporting on Substack or Patreon! andyjpizza.substack.com https://www.patreon.com/c/creativepeptalk SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com Chris Piascik https://www.chrispiascik.com https://www.youtube.com/@chris-piascik SPONSORS: SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTA

If you’re struggling to find motivation in the face of bad habits and bad news, this episode is for you. Repeat episodes of burn out, procrastination or lack of progress can wear you down, so if you’re looking for a fresh perspective, check this episode out! THIS EPISODE IS INSPIRED BY MY LOVE OF THE SHOW SEVERANCE, BUT CONTAINS NO SPOILERS! Join our January Virtual Pep Rally by supporting on Substack or Patreon! andyjpizza.substack.com https://www.patreon.com/c/creativepeptalk SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com Severance https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severance_(TV_series) Tim Ferriss 770 with Elizabeth Gilbert https://tim.blog/2024/09/26/elizabeth-gilbert-2/ SPONSORS: SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK Learn more about your ad

Andy sits down to have a joint podcast episode with master storyteller and comedian Alice Fraser for both of their podcasts.  In this episode we explore: - Making work that’s more personal and meaningful - The things to consider when sharing elements of your personal life in your work - Being a parent when you have a creative practice - Navigating the different stages of life / the creative journey Join our January Virtual Pep Rally by supporting on Substack or Patreon! andyjpizza.substack.com https://www.patreon.com/c/creativepeptalk SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com Alice Fraser https://www.alicecomedyfraser.com SPONSORS: SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Freeze up during slow times? Waiting for a BIG IDEA to get started? Overwhelmed by the blank page? In this episode, we explore how to tap into your effortless creativity and get yourself to start TODAY. Join our January Virtual Pep Rally by supporting on Substack or Patreon! andyjpizza.substack.com https://www.patreon.com/c/creativepeptalk SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller SOPHIE MILLER Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones Pending Beautiful Collective Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? WHY? Institutional Validation https://www.tiktok.com/@faganchelsea/video/7275799035351452960 TEMI COKER Temi Coker on Substack Taika Waititi How Being Yourself Can Make You Hilarious | Taika Waititi on Filmmaking SPONSORS: SQUARESPACE Head to Website Builder — Create a Website in Minutes — Squarespace to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK Miro Miro is a collaborative virtual workspace that syncs in real time for you and your team so that you can innovate

If you’re struggling to create goals that feel motivating, this episode is for you! Goals have their place, but sometimes we need to tap into a more renewable motivation. In this episode I share a shift that freaking changed the game for me! For real! Hope you get the same boost from this that I did! Join our January Virtual Pep Rally by supporting on Substack or Patreon! andyjpizza.substack.com https://www.patreon.com/c/creativepeptalk Albert Camus - Sisyphus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Myth_of_Sisyphus Austin Kleon - Keep Going https://austinkleon.com/keepgoing/ Stephen Pressfield - The Artist’s Journey https://stevenpressfield.com/books/the-artists-journey/ Uri Shulevitz - Writing With Pictures https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Pictures-Write-Illustrate-Childrens/dp/0823059359 James P. Carse - Finite and Infinite Games https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finite_and_Infinite_Games Simon Sinek - The Infinite Game https://simonsinek.com/books/the-infinite-game/ Sufjan Stevens https://thecreativeindepende

Join our January Virtual Pep Rally by supporting on Substack or Patreon! andyjpizza.substack.com https://www.patreon.com/c/creativepeptalk --- If you’re struggling to find an exciting vision for your creative future this new year, this episode is for you. This is episode one of “The Grounding Series”. While others may be shooting for the sky this January, we start with the opposite: getting grounded. Let’s tap into what really matters and why we choose to create in the first place. If chasing sales, career or validation has got in the way, this episode will help you root yourself back in the joy of creating again. This is episode 1 of The Ground Series. SHOW NOTES: Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com The Indie Rock Coloring Book https://www.amazon.com/Indie-Rock-Coloring-Book/dp/B008ISI14S Modest Mouse https://www.instagram.com/modestmouse/?h

Prompts for reflection, intention and hope with Andy J. Pizza and Sophie Miller. Step back from the holiday hustle, consider your 2024 year of creativity and look forward into the year to come. In this fun Christmas Carol themed episode (not too Christmassy so don’t let that put you off!) we are visited by 3 Ghosts: Past, Present and Future. Each Creative Ghost asks a question and we each answer their prompts. There are themes of gratitude, growth, presence, inspiration for 2025. This episode has a downloadable worksheet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices