Creative Pep Talk

Latest Episodes:

489 - How to Make Your Work More Personal with Comedian Alice Fraser Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

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

488 - Frozen During Slow Times? How to Activate Self Starter Energy Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

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 an idea into an outcome seamlessly - Miro | The Innovation Workspace

487 - Apathetic About Goals? Uncover A Different Source of "Infinite" Motivation Jan 08, 2025

Show notes

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://thecreativeindependent.com/people/sufjan-stevens-on-songwriting-collaboration-and-the-myth-of-the-tortured-artist/

Brian McDonald

https://writeinvisibleink.com

Ira Glass

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ira_Glass

Colin Rigsby

https://www.instagram.com/vesperteen/?hl=en

Clairo - Charm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charm_(Clairo_album)

486 - How to Transform Your Frustrations into Fertilizer in 2025 Jan 01, 2025

Show notes

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/?hl=en

“The Hidden Life of Trees” Illustrated Edition

https://shop.readbirdiebooks.com/item/AS48k97jmWOOU7NcZAJOUQ

Megalopolis

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalopolis_(film)

Julian Glander’s “Boys Go to Jupiter”

https://glander.co/filter/tunes/BOYS-GO-TO-JUPITER

WHY? - The Well that I Fell Into

https://whywithaquestionmark.bandcamp.com/album/the-well-i-fell-into

SPONSORS:

Uncommon Goods

Check out Uncommon Goods and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal:

www.uncommongoods.com

Miro

Miro is a collaborative virtual workspace that syncs in real time for you and your team so that you can innovate an idea into an outcome seamlessly - http://miro.com

485 - A 3 Question Year-End Reflection to Awaken Your Creative Spirit Dec 25, 2024

Show notes

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

484 - Creativity vs Discipline: Finding Balance Between these Oppositional Forces with Andy J. Pizza Dec 18, 2024

Show notes

10 Years of the Creative Pep Talk Podcast. Can you believe it? In this episode the tables get turned! Bestselling Author Katherine May interviews Andy J. Pizza about this ten year journey of a creative project.

In this vulnerable behind the scenes chat we cover:

How to unlock the creative discipline to keep showing up in your creative practice even when you may want to quit sometimes.
Why you might want to include personal / vulnerable information in your work and how to think about what you want to share vs what you want to remain private
Behind the scenes and creative journey details that Andy hasn’t shared before!

We talk: Podcasting, ADHD and Storytelling.

SHOW NOTES:

Interview by Katherine Mayhttps://katherine-may.co.uk/

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:

Miro

Miro is a collaborative virtual workspace that syncs in real time for you and your team so that you can innovate an idea into an outcome seamlessly - http://miro.com

Squarespace

Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK

483 - Artist Case Study: The Niche Shortcut with Olivia Rafferty Dec 11, 2024

Show notes

How do you find a creative niche? It's become a Creative Pep Talk classic cliche!

In this Artist Case Study episode we talk through the creative journey of Scottish Singer-Songwriter, Olivia Rafferty. Olivia is such a great example of an artist who has found a novel way to cut through the noise by stepping out of her industry and dipping into another.

From the creative sparks, to all the confusing conflicting advice, to finding something that works for you and rolling with it.

http://www.oliviarafferty.com/

https://www.instagram.com/olivia_rafferty/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Syuo0IkP7frpCdRuWJEpp

https://oliviarafferty.bandcamp.com/

https://soundcloud.com/oliviarafferty

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?

SPONSORS:

Squarespace

Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK 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 an idea into an outcome seamlessly - Miro | The Innovation Workspace

482 - The Key Ingredient for Maximizing Discoverability Dec 04, 2024

Show notes

Episode 4/4 of The Journey of The True Fan Series

How do you find an audience for your work?
Does it feel like you're sat quietly with your fishing rod, just waiting patiently for something to bite?
Have you really considered what you're hoping to catch and how best to get its attention?

In this episode we explore the DISCOVERY of the 3 part plan: Discovery, Trust and Sell.

We get into the essential purpose of your website too!

This episode is in partnership with Squarespace!

Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK

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:

Seth Godin 'Be Remarkable'

Immanuel Kant

SPONSORS:

Uncommon Goods

Check out Uncommon Goods and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal:

www.uncommongoods.com

Miro

Miro is a collaborative virtual workspace that syncs in real time for you and your team so that you can innovate an idea into an outcome seamlessly - Miro | The Innovation Workspace

481 - Get Lost and Found in Your Work, With Sarah Walsh Nov 27, 2024

Show notes

How can you take ownership of your creativity and quit waiting for someone to tell you what to do and how to do it?

In this episode we discuss staying true to your younger self, taking charge of your path, leaning into that unicorn energy and holding onto the goofiness.

Collaborative art by Andy J Pizza and Sarah Walsh. See instagram post for all phases of this collab from sketch to final.

---------------

SHOW NOTES

Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller sophiemiller.co

Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones pendingbeautiful.co

Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? whywithaquestionmark.com

---Sarah Walsh---

Website: http://www.sarahwalshmakesthings.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahwalshmakesthings/

Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Tigersheepfriends

'I can be ok even if you're not ok' Teacher Quote

Mentioned:

Problemista movie & Julio Torres

Illustrated Wildlife Treasury

Vampire Weekend and Rostam

CPT Rostam episode is #311

'Making Comics' book by Lynda Barry

'Bird by Bird' book by Anne Lamott

'Working it Out' Podcast with Mike Birbiglia https://www.birbigs.com/working-it-out-pod

---SPONSORS---

Uncommon Goods

Check out Uncommon Goods and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal:

http://uncommongoods.com

Miro

Miro is a collaborative virtual workspace that syncs in real time for you and your team so that you can innovate an idea into an outcome seamlessly

http://miro.com

Squarespace

Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK

480 - Creating Wonder Rituals, with Katherine May Nov 20, 2024

Show notes

Sometimes the most simple act of presence can lead us from exhaustion, to recovery and back onto the path towards inspiration. Katherine May, author of The Electricity of Every Living Thing and Wintering joins us to talk about the inspiration behind her newest book Enchantment.

In this episode we discuss the fog, the magic, the journey, and how we can nudge ourselves and others forward by:

Reconnecting to a child-like sense of awe and wonder
Trusting what comes natural
Leaving a post-it note

-----------------

SHOW NOTES:

Web https://katherine-may.co.uk/

'The Clearing' https://substack.com/@katherinemay

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katherinemay_/

MENTIONS:

John Yorke: 'All tales, then, are at some level a journey into the woods to find the missing part of us, to retrieve it and make ourselves whole.'

Richard Dawkins

'The Artist's Way' Book

Picasso: 'Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working'

Julian James- Origin of Consciousnessin the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind

Kristin Hersh- The Future of Songwriting

Mike Birbiglia podcast

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:

Uncommon Goods

Check out Uncommon Goods and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal: