Jimmy and Melissa air some things OUT. We’re talking about the cost of an unexpressed life. We’re talking about the cost of wrangling our true voices to be more palatable to institutions - for clout, visibility, legibility, resource access - and how the curated version of ourselves is like an addiction that must be recovered from, boy howdy! We’re looking at the micro and macro impact of power differentials, and thinking about how so much of our behavior is about avoiding rejection from people and organizations that have more perceived power than us. Turns out rejection is a secret portal to becoming more of yourself, and improvisation is the medicinal lifeway we’ve all been searching for. OK!!!!   More about our guest — Find Jimmy on IG @j_jo 🕯Learn more about Into the Velvet Black ~ Melissa’s 3-week inbox grief retreat starting December 11, 2023! Book 1:1 Creative Guidance time with Melissa   Free Resources — Check out Attention Reset - my free digital art zine on reviving your road-weary attention Stay Connected — Follow Melissa’s Instagram for podcast updates Join Melissa’s weeklyish newsletter for creative musings and studio news Big thanks to Ben Coleman for composing our theme music, and Gavin Bernard for vocals