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Creative Pep Talk

Andy J. Pizza

A Weekly Podcast Companion for Your Creative Journey


Transform your creative potential into reality by making your creativity a practice. A “creative discipline” can feel like an oxymoron. Creativity is about doing something new. Discipline is about doing something consistently. The aim of this podcast is to help you strike that elusive balance. 


Each week, New York Times Bestselling Author Illustrator Andy J. Pizza shares everything he’s learning about building a thriving creative practice. Through solo episodes and interviews with top-tier creatives, Pizza brings you the strategies and stories that you need week in and week out to keep your inner critic at bay, bust through creative blocks and stay creatively pepped to the max!!


Learn more: creativepeptalk.com

Check out the host: andyjpizza.com

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  • 31 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 46 min
  • English

Episodes 31

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  • #558
    June 3 · 24 min

    558 - Start, Do, Finish: Get Around What's Blocking You from Doing Stuff

    Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- Most creative people don’t need help being creative. You have the ideas. Where you trip up is the executive dysfunction. It’s getting yourself to start, middle, and finish the thing strong. In this episode I want to share with you the number 1 things that’s helped me, a creative with MEGA ADHD, transform ideas into 10+ books, projects that lead to work with X-Box, Apple and Nickelodeon and more. Stick around until the end for our “Creative Call to Adventure” it’s called “Out Block” and it will help you turn your current creative block into a starting block today! SHOW NOTES: ICON 13 ILLUSTRATION CONFERENCE $100 OFF: www.eventbrite.com/e/1808652431109/?discount=ICON13FriendofBoard Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com Spotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzDZjQgqSpoaLXdVACg&pi=h4HsIKG0SP6Kg SPONSORS: SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK RULA Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/peptalk #rulapod

  • #557
    May 27 · 1 hr 3 min

    557 - Finding Your Scene, IRL Creativity, the Hopeful Return of Indie / DIY with Hanif Abdurraqib

    Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- Your genius might be hiding in your backyard. This episode is for you if: 1 - You need to find real people to collaborate with. 2 - You need to cultivate real creative connection in real life. 3 - You need hope of a more human future for creativity. 4 - You want to be inspired by a brilliant creative mind like Hanif! I had a blast chatting face to face with the local AND worldwide creative legend, MacArthur “genius” grant winner and bestselling author, Hanif Abdurraqib. SHOW NOTES: Hanif Abdurraqib https://www.abdurraqib.com Living for the City Podcast https://www.youtube.com/@LivingfortheCityPod ”We Always Have This Year” by Hanif Abdurraqib https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/695817/theres-always-this-year-by-hanif-abdurraqib/ Headshot of Hanif Abdurraqib by Megan Leigh Barnard https://meganleighbarnard.com ICON 13 ILLUSTRATION CONFERENCE $100 OFF: www.eventbrite.com/e/1808652431109/?discount=ICON13FriendofBoard Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com Spotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzDZjQgqSpoaLXdVACg&pi=h4HsIKG0SP6Kg SPONSORS: SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK RULA Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/peptalk #rulapod

  • #556
    May 21 · 28 min

    *FIXED SEE SHOW NOTES* 556 - Make This Shift to Reclaim Your Creative Spirit from Your Phone

    This episode was initially published without the end of the story and the main point of the episode spelled out! We had one essential portion of this episode missing in the previous edit!! Thank you for those who sent me messages so that I could clear this up. I really love this episode and I am glad we fixed it! Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- Listen to this episode if: 1 - You are sick of trying to prove yourself on the internet. 2 - You need to find a way to shift away from pouring all your creativity into your phone. 3 - You need a grounding exercise to help you get more in the present, connect your now to your past self and open up new possibilities for your future! SHOW NOTES: Mysterious Things invisiblethings.co Angus Fletcher - Primal Intelligence https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/740110/primal-intelligence-by-angus-fletcher/ Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com Spotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzDZjQgqSpoaLXdVACg&pi=h4HsIKG0SP6Kg SPONSORS: SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK RULA Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/peptalk #rulapod

  • #555
    May 13 · 1 hr

    555 - Overcome Dead Ends & Open Up to New Directions with Hrishikesh Hirway

    Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- This episode is for you if: 1 - You have hit a dead end and need to open up to totally new directions. 2 - You are stuck doing nothing and need a small place to start. 3 - You need to find new guidance from an outside perspective. This is a chat with musician Hrishikesh Hirway. You may know Hirway from his phenomenal podcast “Song Exploder” or his work as a composer for the film “Companion” or Netflix television series “Everything Sucks!”. Today we discuss the winding journey to his new album “In the Last Hour of Light” which features guests like Iron and Wine and Fenne Lily. SHOW NOTES: Hrishikesh Hirway https://hrishikesh.co Hrishikesh Hirway - In the Last Hour of Light https://hrishikesh.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-last-hour-of-light Song Exploder https://songexploder.net Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com Spotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzDZjQgqSpoaLXdVACg&pi=h4HsIKG0SP6Kg SPONSORS: SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK

  • #554
    May 6 · 50 min

    554 - Get Back to Creativity that Actually Helps Your Mental Health with Gemma Correll

    Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- Most of us start making things because on some level it feels good! It feels like a meditation. It brings flow. It helps us process. But if you ever get serious about your work, you may also accidentally lose all these positives and replace them with negative side effects like pressure, anxiety, and even despair. If you want to get back to the kind of creative practice that lifts you up instead of triggers you, this episode is for you! Gemma Correll is a world-renowned illustrator and cartoonist with one of the most personal and practical creative practices that I know of. She has been art journaling way before it was cool, and it’s turned into a cathartic experience that she now shares with the world through her online comics and now her phenomenal graphic memoir “Anxietyland”. We discuss: 1 - How to access that energy of making just for yourself before you think about anyone else. 2 - The power and pitfalls of mixing creativity with your mental health. 3 - What type of creative community we hope to see evolve in a post-social media-centric world. SHOW NOTES: Gemma Correll https://www.gemmacorrell.com Anxietyland by Gemma Correll https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Anxietyland/Gemma-Correll/9781668004159 Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com Spotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzDZjQgqSpoaLXdVACg&pi=h4HsIKG0SP6Kg SPONSORS: SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK

  • April 29 · 45 min

    553 - Recover Sense of Self & Creative Voice with These 6 Juicy Prompts

    Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- This episode is for you if: 1 - You have been pretending to be someone else for so long that you have forgotten who you are. 2 - You want to put more of your real self into your work and need help understanding how to do that. 3 - You need some fun and unexpected exercises to get back in touch with what you really care about and who you really are. Check out the “Right Side Out” Series here: http://andyjpizza.com/rso SHOW NOTES: Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com Spotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzDZjQgqSpoaLXdVACg&pi=h4HsIKG0SP6Kg SPONSORS: SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK

  • #552
    April 22 · 48 min

    552 - Listen to This if You Need Help Remembering Who You Are (Right Side Out 1 of 6) *RE-AIR*

    Check out the rest of the “Right Side Out” series on it's own podcast feed here: andyjpizza.com/rso --- It’s been 2 years since we originally aired this episode. This is part 1 of our 6 part audio memoir series “Right Side Out”. On the surface it’s about my journey with ADHD and making peace with being “just like my mom”. But underneath, what it’s really about, is YOU. It’s about how to love yourself enough to get curious about who you are. If you have had trouble finding your style, voice or sensibility as an artist, it might be because you’ve jumped to making for others too quickly. First and foremost, creative work helps us get our inner world onto the page so that we can get an outside perspective on ourselves. Kind of trippy, right? HAHA. But it’s true. Listen to this episode: 1 - If you want to remember who you are. 2 - You need tools for putting more of yourself into your work, whether it’s creative work or not! 3 - You are longing for a more gentle, loving and ultimately more productive relationship with yourself. SHOW NOTES: You can now listen to the whole “Right Side Out” series on its podcast feed here: andyjpizza.com/rso On Apple Podcasts here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/right-side-out/id1894328132 And on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/show/13Z8as20GdLXDifrQVxuyL?si=723da00dfa3048d3 Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com Spotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzDZjQgqSpoaLXdVACg&pi=h4HsIKG0SP6Kg SPONSORS: SQUARESPACE Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK

  • #551
    April 15 · 30 min

    551 - Consume and Create Art to Get Your Brain Back with Scientist Daisy Fancourt

    Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- This episode is for you if: 1 - You’re feeling like you’ve lost the thread and your point of view as a creative. 2 - You’re fed up with consuming so much junk online and need tactics to start consuming better creative stuff that inspires you again. 3 - Need to dive deeper into the science of why your relationship with art can make all the difference to your creative practice and general wellbeing. This episode features a chat with scientist and science communicator Daisy Fancourt about her new Sunday Times Bestselling book “Art Cure - The Science of How the Arts Save Lives”. Learn more about Daisy Fancourt here: https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/44526-daisy-fancourt Check out “Art Cure” here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250364531/artcure/ SHOW NOTES: Art Cure by Daisy Fancourt https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250364531/artcure/ Art Cure Events Calendar https://sbbresearch.org/projects/artcure/ Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com Spotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzDZjQgqSpoaLXdVACg&pi=h4HsIKG0SP6Kg 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

  • April 8 · 44 min

    550 - Get Back to Your Creative Path with These 3 Counterintuitive Things

    Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- Listen to this if: 1 - You feel creatively off or can’t find your creative thread at the moment 2 - You’re in a season where you’re not making as much as you want to be 3 - You feel in a low place creatively and need to remember why you care about creating 4 - You feel ill from so much doomscrolling and consuming short form video! SHOW NOTES: Cal Newport’s Podcast https://calnewport.com/podcasts/ Simon Critchley - On Mysticism https://www.nyrb.com/products/mysticism Angus Fletcher - Wonderworks https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Wonderworks/Angus-Fletcher/9781982135980 Lizzy McAlpine - Drunk, Running https://youtu.be/Xa8iMI0yRVY?si=De3Uia0x0VkHL-mM Wolf Children https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2140203/ Wolf Children Soundtrack https://open.spotify.com/album/3vZyva1XWxRbf0wq4MsU8q Piranesi by Susanna Clarke https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/piranesi-9781635575637/ Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com Spotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzDZjQgqSpoaLXdVACg&pi=h4HsIKG0SP6Kg 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

  • #549
    April 1 · 1 hr 13 min

    549 - This is How Sensitive Creative People Make Big Changes with Eric Zimmer

    Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- Listen if: 1 - All the habit advice doesn’t work you as an emotional creative type 2 - You are tired of fighting yourself to make the changes you want to make 3 - You need an exercise for discovering your deepest held values If these hit home, this deep dive with author and podcaster Eric Zimmer was made for you! SHOW NOTES: Eric Zimmer https://www.oneyoufeed.net/about-eric-zimmer/ How a Little Becomes a Lot by Eric Zimmer https://www.harpercollins.com/products/how-a-little-becomes-a-lot-eric-zimmer?variant=43996638838818 The One You Feed Podcast https://www.oneyoufeed.net Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com Spotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzDZjQgqSpoaLXdVACg&pi=h4HsIKG0SP6Kg 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

  • #548
    March 25 · 35 min

    548 - 5 Creative / Neurodivergent Friendly Productivity Hacks to Become a Doer

    Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- This episode is for you if: 1 - You have so many ideas but struggle to realize many of them! 2 - Most productivity advice doesn’t work for you. 3 - You need to feel excited and hopeful again about your creative practice. SHOW NOTES: Creative Pep Talk Ep 548 with Jarod K. Anderson https://www.creativepeptalk.com/draft-episode-for-mar-04-2026545-make-your-life-creative-work-more-rich-with-meaning-with-jarod/ Jim Collins - Jim the Bug https://www.jimcollins.com/media_topics/TheCurseOfCompetence.html Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com Spotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzDZjQgqSpoaLXdVACg&pi=h4HsIKG0SP6Kg 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

Showing 21–31 of 31 episodes