Feeling lost on the creative journey? Download our 7 step Creative Career Path Handbooklet for FREE by signing up to our newsletter. --- This episode is for you if you: 1 - Struggle to be productive like a “normal” human2 - Want to make your work more YOU3 - You want to get looser and have more fun in your work4 - Are interested in storytelling / picture books THIS WAS A PHENOMENALLY FUN AND INSIGHTFUL CHAT with picture book legend Bob Shea! SHOW NOTES: Bob Sheahttps://www.bobshea.com Bearsuit Turtlehttps://store.abramsbooks.com/products/bearsuit-turtle-makes-a-friend Chez Bobhttps://www.bobshea.com/books/chez-bob Lane Smithhttps://www.lanesmithbooks.com Stinky Cheese Manhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stinky_Cheese_Man_and_Other_Fairly_Stupid_Tales Genesight Medication Testinghttps://genesight.com Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.coAudio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.coSoundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com 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. ---This episode is for you if you are: 1 - A beginner trying to make a splash2 - A seasoned creative who needs to try something new3 - Stuck and uninspired and lost the love of making stuff We are all beginners at some point and we become beginners again and again at different aspects of our creative journey repeatedly. With times rapidly changing, this has never been more true. In this Q&A episode of the show, we explore how to begin well, but also, maybe more importantly how to end and finish projects well. This is a fan favorite type Q&A “Ask Dr. Pizza” episode :) 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 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. --- How do truly embed yourself into your work?  Today on the show, we have a creative master who has done this at the highest level. In this episode, Caldecott winning author illustrator Brian Selznick joins me to discuss his new book “Run Away with Me”.  We deconstruct the elements that make this book both a quintessential piece of work for Selznick, and also an evolution of his creative voice.  If you want to develop a deeper sense of yourself in the work and find your place amongst the timeline of your creative hero's. This episode is for you! SHOW NOTES: Brian Selznickhttps://brianselznick.com https://www.runawaywithmethebook.com Maurice Sendakhttps://www.mauricesendak.com A Page is a Door by Remy Charliphttps://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/remy_essay.htm Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.coAudio 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. ---Do you feel like the competition is so steep you don’t have a chance? Do you ever look around online and think “why should I even bother? I am not even close to this level of talent!” If so, this episode is for you. Stop trying to be super and tap into your true edge: your secret creative powers! Let’s talk about how to find them! 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 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. ---When times are hectic and industries freeze, it can feel like creative progress is impossible. In times like these, rather than bang your head up against the same wall over and over again, you can see this external block as a sign that it’s time to shift your focus and ways of being. In this episode I share one of the most essential breakthroughs in my creative practice that happened during some of the slowest and scariest moments of my creative journey. SHOW NOTES: Lisa Miller PhD The Awakened Brainhttps://www.lisamillerphd.com Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.coAudio 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. --- This was an INCREDIBLE CHAT. I left so pepped. If you are overwhelmed by the blank page, scared to try and fail, or feel the pressure to exist in a vacuum, this episode is for you! In this episode, Poet Maggie Smith is back with her brilliant new book “Dear Writer: Pep Talks and Practical Advice for the Creative Life”. I LOVED this book and this chat JUST AS MUCH. This episode is CHOCKED FULL of creative insights from Maggie and her new book, you are going to love it! SHOW NOTES: Maggie Smithhttps://maggiesmithpoet.com/book/dear-writer/ Good Boneshttps://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/89897/good-bones Dear Writer: Pep Talks and Practical Advice for the Creative Lifehttps://maggiesmithpoet.com/book/dear-writer/ Katherine Faheyhttp://www.thecrankiefactory.com/115034631.html 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: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 --- 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% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.sophieyanow.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sophieyanow GABRIELLE BELL https://gabriellebell.com/ JAMES CLEAR https://jamesclear.com/habits BJ FOGG https://tinyhabits.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

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 Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com Susan David - Emotional Agility https://www.susandavid.com/book/ Steven Pressfield - The War of Art  https://stevenpressfield.com/books/the-war-of-art/ Julian Glander on Creative Pep Talk https://www.creativepeptalk.com/474-the-obstacle-is-the-swagway-with-julian-glander/ Sophie Yanow https://www.sophieyanow.com James Clear - Atomic Habits https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits Undermining Children’s Intrinsic Interest with Extrinsic Rewards: A Test of the ‘Overjustification’ Hypothesis https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281453299_Undermining_Children's_Intrinsic_Interest_with_Extrinsic_Reward_A_Test_of_the_Overjustification_Hypothesis 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

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_BhCbARIsALId2Z2xYfo7EqnFqpyWtE24TwFyCV_7WmVgJSdiZXOaJmsyDY77xtostb8aAqPpEALw_wcB Eric Nuzum Make Noise http://ericnuzum.com Bon Iver Interview on Popbase https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBvC_-XaTTc Dijon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dijon_Duenas Mk.Gee https://www.mkgee.com John Klassen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Klassen Ian McGilchrist - Master and His Emissary Ian McGilchrist - Master and His Emissary Timothy Goodman https://www.tgoodman.com Ghibli / Hayao Miyazaki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayao_Miyazaki Roman Muradov on Style https://substack.com/@bluebed/note/c-104114669  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 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 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 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=1000534667456&l=ca Brain Pickings https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/07/04/the-artists-way-julia-cameron/ Mason Currey Daily Rituals https://www.masoncurrey.com/daily-rituals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 PEPTALK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/Carrie_%26_Lowell Katherine May - Wintering https://katherine-may.co.uk/wintering  Art Brand Alliance https://artbrandalliance.com  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 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 PEPTALK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices