In the middle of a busy season—like, say, launching a new book—it is so easy to view time as a resource to be earned rather than an experience to be felt. In this episode, I explore the "Workaholic Quiz" from Week 10 of The Artist's Way and ask: Is your busyness fueled by joy, or is it a shield against the vulnerability of being still?

Using Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith's "7 Types of Rest" and the design concept of White Space, we discuss how rest isn't a reward for finishing your work—it's the fuel that makes the work possible.

• Pre-order the New Book: Art Is How God Loves Us (Coming July 2026!)

• Join the Launch Team: The Sacred Studio Google Form (Last call to read with Merideth in June!)

• Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith: Learn more about her research at RestQuiz.com or her main site, DrSaundraDaltonSmith.com.

• The Joyster Community: Join us on Patreon for a 7-day free trial and watch the full replay of our "The Artist's Rest" Meet-Up.

• Connect on Substack: Art's Open Door

• Instagram: @artistsforjoy

Today on the podcast, Merideth chats with Winfield Bevins—author, artist, and founder of Creo Arts—to talk about his latest book, How Beauty Will Save the World.

In a world that feels loud, fast, and fractured, Winfield invites us back to something slower and truer: beauty. Not the surface-level kind, but the kind that heals and reconnects us to God, ourselves, and each other.

Links:

*Read more about Winfield Bevins*Get How Beauty Will Save the World*Learn more about Creo Arts*Follow Winfield on Instagram

*Become a Joyster (Paid Supporter) on Patreon: Get access to hours of creative discovery and recovery content

*Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

*Tell me what you think of this episode via IG @artistsforjoy or via email [email protected]

*Pre-order Art Is How God Loves Us and read the latest sample chapter on Substack now!

This week, I'm joined by Shannan Martin to talk about her new book, Counterweights and how we can hold hope when life feels unbearably heavy.

Counterweights aren't about denying pain or replacing grief with surface-level happiness. It's a way of naming what steadies us: the ordinary, specific things that help us stay upright. We cannot counter what we won't weigh.

In our conversation, we talk about the evolving creative life, the grief and celebration of finishing a book, and how the practice of counterweights helps artists stay soft and grounded when everything feels like too much.

Also:

• Why more time and space don't necessarily make creativity easier

• The every-hour crisis of writing a book and learning to surrender it imperfectly

• How introverts can build a real, local community by simply noticing who's nearby

Shannon shares how working in a community kitchen, watching the sky, and paying attention to the particulars of her own neighborhood all become spiritual practices. These are reminders that we don't have to choose between being honest about what's hard and delighting in what's good.

Links:

Get Counterweights

Sign up for Shannan's Substack, The Soup

Our Enneagram 8 episode featuring Shannan

Download the Curtain Call Questions

We all grapple with that hyper-sensitive, judgmental part of ourselves, the ego, which is an integral—yet often painful—aspect of being an artist. This week on the podcast, I've found a new, surprisingly visceral metaphor and a spiritual practice that is helping me embrace less defensiveness and find a much deeper resonance.

Links:

• Join us for "The Art of 'Yes And'" with Sara McMahon on Patreon

• Become a Joyster (Paid Supporter) on Patreon: Get access to hours of creative discovery and recovery content.

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

• Tell me what you think of this episode via IG @artistsforjoy or via email [email protected]

• Pre-order Art Is How God Loves Us and read the latest sample chapter on Substack now!

Have you ever felt like your creative self (your inner Maker) and your get-it-done, logistical self (your inner Manager) are constantly battling it out? We all need both of these energies to create a sustainable, joyful life—but getting them to play nicely together is the real trick.

In this episode, I dive deep into the Maker vs. Manager dynamic, including my own recent creative block, and share four practical ways to finally get them working in sync. Learn how to reorient your inner Manager to become an enthusiastic Artist Manager—someone who is dedicated to creating the perfect conditions for your inner artist to thrive.

Links

• Become a Joyster (Paid Supporter) on Patreon: Get access to hours of creative discovery and recovery content, including the monthly Joyster meet-up from Friday, Feb 13th, Filling the Well

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

• Tell me what you think of this episode via IG @artistsforjoy or via email [email protected]

• Pre-order Art Is How God Loves Us and read the latest sample chapter on Substack now!

This week we are diving into my quarterly practice of naming what's bringing me joy this season. It's a fun, unscripted (!) episode full of big and small things that are truly "saving my life right now."

Links:

• A question that's helping me take action (Read a Substack essay about this one next week!)

• A Cohort that I'm participating in this year

• New Writing Rhythm

• This item saved our sweaters

• This is my favorite Galentine's gift

• A deck and an IG account that are helping me parent with more joy.

• A book launch update!

• Writing and sharing poetry

PS: I definitely got the numbering wrong on the episode (told you it was unscripted!) So please feel free to ignore that!

Are you struggling to focus and create when the world feels chaotic? This week: a much-needed pep talk. Four vital reasons why making art is not a luxury, but an essential act of perseverance, resilience, and hope.

Links:

Beauty will save the world: Substack Essay

Burnout Book

Burnout Podcast Episode

Become a Joyster and join February 13th's Filling the Well Workshop

Join The Artist's Way Creative Cluster

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

We're back with our first new episode of 2026! I'm sharing a pep talk for anyone (including myself!) who is stepping into the new year with trepidation. This episode is especially for you if you're in the process of submitting your work to be judged or critiqued. Inspired by the "whiplash" I felt after submitting a major grant application this week, I encourage you to shift your focus from the outcome (the product) to the sheer effort and the vulnerable act of trying.

Links and Calls to Action Mentioned:

• Support the Show: Become a Joyster on my Patreon for hours of creative discovery and recovery content.
• Joyster Monthly Meet Up: Learn more and register for our next meeting on February 13th at noon EST to chat about inspiration and "filling the well."
• New Book Pre-order: My newest book, Art is How God Loves Us, is available for pre-order now.
• Art's Open Door, Substack Subscription: I'm moving to bi-monthly podcast episodes, and on the "off weeks," I'll be publishing some writing over on Substack. You can subscribe to that separate email list to get my voice and words in your inbox each Friday.
• Connect Online:
  • Instagram: @artistsforjoy
  • Email: [email protected]

Links:

Join our Word-of-the-year Art Party (or watch the replay!)

Join the next Artist's Way Creative Cluster

Pre-order Art Is How God Loves Us

Original show notes:

Any other artists out there tired of thinking/talking/obsessing about marketing? This week, Merideth shares the first of a three-part series based on her words of the year. The first word—anti-hustle—calls her to a simpler, quieter, more harmonious way of life. She also answers a question about morning pages, all to the beautiful music of Debussy, Beethoven, and Brahms performed by Marnie Laird of Brooklyn Classical.

Leave us a question via email

Join the FREE Artist's Way Creative Cluster

Podcast Transcript

In this deep and delightful conversation, Merideth and Christine Paintner explore the ancient practice of breath prayer and how it can be a transformative tool for contemplation, creativity, and navigating moments of transition. Listen to the end for a blessing for 2026!

Links:

Guest: Christine Valters Paintner, Online Abbess of Abbey of the Arts (a virtual monastery and global community celebrating its 20th year).

Book: Give Me a Word: The Promise of Ancient Practice to Guide Your Year

Become a Joyster and join us for the January "Word of the Year Art Party" on January 9th.