Awakening With Grace — Creativity & Consciousness

How can we begin to embrace vulnerability as our greatest strength, rather than a weakness? This week on Creativity School, I'm speaking to BJ Williams about breaking stigmas surrounding mental health and being vulnerable, particularly for black men in America who are 20% more likely to experience mental illness than the general population.

BJ is the creator of a video series called Can I Be Vulnerable?, which encourages black men to face and normalize their vulnerability and mental health. BJ talks about how the series got started completely unplanned, when he shared his own raw and vulnerable video talking about his background and going to therapy. As a result, many men began sharing their own stories and Can I Be Vulnerable? was born.

Listen to find out why destigmatizing mental health and speaking openly about the things that make us vulnerable is so important, and why it's essential to learn healthy emotional intelligence. BJ also shares how he deals with negativity online, and how a lack of resources can lead to great creativity and innovation. Listen to feel inspired and embrace your own vulnerability as a superpower!

**Today's episode is brought to you by Audible! If you want to get started with a free audiobook download and 30 day free trial head over to at www.creativityschoolpodcast.com/audible.

Mentioned in this episode:

• What happened after BJ shared a video of himself being extremely raw and vulnerable

• Dealing with negativity online especially when what you make is so personal and raw

• Deciphering constructive criticism vs trash talking

• Breaking generational curses and learning healthy emotional intelligence

• The importance of embracing vulnerability and emotional intelligence

• How a lack of resources allows for great creativity

• BJ's advice on how to get started on your own creative project

CONNECT WITH BJ:

Instagram | CIBV Instagram | CIBV YouTube

CONNECT WITH CREATIVITY SCHOOL:

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This week on Creativity School, my guest Monica Lo and I have an open minded discussion about cannabis and it's incredible power as a wellness tool for maximizing your creativity and promoting physical, emotional and spiritual healing.

Monica is a photographer and creative director working to change the public perception of cannabis users. She's also the creator of Sous Weed®, a blog dedicated to using cannabis as a superfood ingredient as opposed to merely a psychoactive additive. Our conversation is all about normalizing and destigmatizing cannabis, and how to use it for more than recreational purposes.

I ask her ALL the questions in this episode, like the difference between indica and sativa, how to use cannabis for productivity and creativity, how cannabis can aid in your physical healing and spiritual growth, and more! Whether you're canna-curious, ready to come out of the canna-closet, or a bonafide canna-lover, you'll learn so much in this conversation!

**Today's episode is brought to you by Audible! If you want to get started with a free audiobook download and 30 day free trial head over to at www.creativityschoolpodcast.com/audible.

Mentioned in this episode:

• The history of cannabis in traditional Chinese Medicine and how it dates back 3,000 years

• How a back injury led Monica down the path of learning about cannabis as a healing and wellness tool

• How healing herself led Monica onto a whole new career path

• Using cannabis to cultivate your creativity

• The difference between indica, sativa and hybrid

• Edibles vs smoking

• Physical, emotional, and spiritual healing using cannabis

• Are certain people more suited for cannabis?

CONNECT WITH MONICA:

Website | Sous Weed | Instagram

CONNECT WITH CREATIVITY SCHOOL:

Thank you so much for listening!

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What if you have a burning desire to make something that you need to see exist in the world, but you don't have any experience and the thought of creating it terrifies the crap out of you? Do you run away or do you answer the call?

My guest Jane Gahng decided to confront all her fears, and make it anyway! Jane is an illustrator and lettering artist, and she shares her story about how she saw a need for an in-person conference celebrating Asian American/ Pacific Islander women and despite her fears, insecurities and lack of experience, decided to create it herself.

We talk about the process of making something massive in scale and completely beyond your comfort zone, and why Jane felt it was so important to push beyond her fears and create a community for people to feel represented, included and empowered. Jane also shares the visualization techniques she uses to overcome her self doubt and gets back up when she feels knocked down, and how this experience has grown her belief in herself and what she's capable of. Listen to feel inspired and push past your own blocks to make what is calling you to be made!

**Today's episode is brought to you by Audible! If you want to get started with a free audiobook download and 30 day free trial head over to at www.creativityschoolpodcast.com/audible.

Mentioned in this episode:

• The importance of pivoting and evolving

• The process of making something massive in scale and completely beyond your comfort zone

• How to overcome self doubt through the power of visualization

• Manifesting what you want by focusing on the feeling you want

• How to achieve your goals by asking for help

• How to keep yourself accountable when you're scared by sharing what you're doing with others

• Get your tickets to Unveil Our Story!

CONNECT WITH JANE:

Website | Instagram | Unveil Our Story

CONNECT WITH CREATIVITY SCHOOL:

Thank you so much for listening!

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Do you have a creative project you really want to work on, but put it off because you just don't have the time for it?

Then today's episode is just for you!

My guest Jake Kahana says nobody taught us how to work, and he wants to change that.

Jake is an artist and teacher helping people thrive in a world overrun with distractions by leading them in unlearning bad habits and replacing them with new, better ones. He's also the king of side projects and the co-founder of Caveday, a company dedicated to teaching people how to maximize their productivity. Fast Company even referred to Jake and his co-founders as "Procrastination Nannies." But it's not just about doing more work in less time– Jake says it's about improving the quality of your life by improving the quality of your work.

This conversation completely changed the way I work. In fact, I edited this episode more efficiently than ever before, thanks to all the juicy, research backed techniques Jake shares with us.

In this episode, Jake shows us how to unlearn the bad habits we're all used to, and how to recreate our own mini Caveday at home. As someone who is highly creative with multiple side projects, he also shares some great insights about how to be more creative.

**Today's episode is brought to you by Audible! If you want to get started with a free audiobook download and 30 day free trial head over to at www.creativityschoolpodcast.com/audible.

Mentioned in this episode:

• How nobody has ever taught us how to work, and why we need to be taught how to work with structure and research based techniques

• How to structure your work so you can get into flow

• The right kind of break to take so you can go back to work more energized (and it's not checking emails and social media!)

• Why multitasking actually makes your work quality worse

• The ONE THING you can take away from this interview to do better work (and it improves your IQ!)

• Jake's advice on how to work at a demanding day job and still have time for your side projects

• Why every creative outlet doesn't need to be a business idea

Resources:

• Attention residue: Why focusing on multiple tasks can kill your work performance

• Gretchen Rubin's The Four Tendencies

• Elizabeth Gilbert on distinguishing between hobbies, jobs, careers, and a vocation

• Glennon Doyle - Don't Carpe Diem

• Fast Company - Procrastination Nannies are Now a Thing

CONNECT WITH JAKE:

Website | Caveday | Instagram

CONNECT WITH CREATIVITY SCHOOL:

Thank you so much for listening!

Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and connect with me online!

Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

If you have any questions or comments for the show, click here

How can you be a badass creative entrepreneur and make money doing what you love?

This week on Creativity School, I talk to Jennifer Perkins, a creative content designer and crafter for places like HGTV and DIY Network. Jennifer has worked in the creative industry as an author, editor, and television host, for over 20 years, and she's also the host of Creative Queso, a podcast all about the business of being creative.

If you want to learn more about how to make money with the things you make, how to overcome the discomfort of self promotion and do it without turning people off, how to network when you hate networking, how to prevent boredom in your creative work, AND SO MUCH MORE - tune in because you'll love this episode!

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WE ARE STARTING CREATIVITY SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS! Want to have a conversation with me about whatever you need help with? Have a burning question you want answered? Send me all your questions on Instagram (@thegracechon) or email me (grace @ grace chon . com)!

**Today's episode is brought to you by Audible! If you want to get started with a free audiobook download and 30 day free trial head over to at www.creativityschoolpodcast.com/audible.

Mentioned in this episode:

• The importance of having multiple streams of income

• How to prevent yourself from getting bored of your work when you turn it into a business

• Overcoming the discomfort of promoting yourself and your work

• How to network when you hate networking

• Why having ADD in your creativity should be something we embrace

• My episode on Jennifer's Podcast Creative Queso

• Goal Digger Podcast

CONNECT WITH JENNIFER:

Website | Creative Queso | Instagram

CONNECT WITH CREATIVITY SCHOOL:

Thank you so much for listening!

Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and connect with me online!

Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

If you have any questions or comments for the show, click here

This week on Creativity School, I talk to Laura Olsen, a creative coach that helps people define their message and get it online using a variety of tools, including Human Design. If you've never heard of Human Design before, you're about to get a crash course on how this tool gives you an overview of the mechanics of how you operate, and "is the owner's manual that we didn't get at birth."

By learning our Human Design type we can gain a deeper understanding of who we really are, and remove all the baggage of who the world tells us to be. As Laura says, truly compelling creativity comes from a deep place of inner knowledge. And the more we know about ourselves, the more we can create better work. Listen to learn more about your purpose and living in alignment with your Human Design!

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WE ARE STARTING CREATIVITY SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS! Want to have a conversation with me about whatever you need help with? Have a burning question you want answered? Send me all your questions on Instagram (@thegracechon) or email me (grace @ grace chon.com)!

**Today's episode is brought to you by Audible! If you want to get started with a free audiobook download and 30 day free trial head over to at www.creativityschoolpodcast.com/audible.

Mentioned in this episode:

• What is Human Design

• The 5 Human Design Types - Manifestor, Generator, Manifesting Generator, Projector, and Reflector

• How Human Design can help you uncover who you really are and how you operate in the world

• Celebrities and famous figures and their Human Design Types

CONNECT WITH LAURA:

Website | Instagram

CONNECT WITH CREATIVITY SCHOOL:

Thank you so much for listening!

Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and connect with me online!

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If you have any questions or comments for the show, click here

I HAD SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THIS EPISODE AND AM RELEASING IT AGAIN IN CASE YOU HAD TROUBLE LISTENING THE FIRST TIME. How funny that the episode about not being perfect, came out... not perfect. Enjoy!

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How do we finally let go of perfectionism and experience the magic that unfolds when we create with complete freedom?

This week on Creativity School, we dig into how perfectionism is poison and not something to be proud of with Carrie Brummer. Carrie is a visual artist and has had work displayed in The Smithsonian and The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She's also an art educator, and the founder of Artist Strong, a community that supports people by giving them the permission to be creative and the tools to develop their unique voice.

We talk about how it took a life threatening health experience for Carrie to finally let go of the need to create art that was perfect, and in the process discovered the incredible things that can happen in your life and work when you let go and create without pressure. Carrie shares actionable steps we can take to release our need for perfection, how to let go of the myth of talent, and how to trust your intuition when creating your work.

**Today's episode is brought to you by Audible! If you want to get started with a free audiobook download and 30 day free trial head over to at www.creativityschoolpodcast.com/audible.

Mentioned in this episode:

• How Carrie entered the world of art education despite her parents and teachers telling her it wasn't practical to pursue a career in the arts

• How a life threatening health experience was a catalyst for her to let go of perfectionism and the need to please others in her work

• The negative side of perfectionism

• The myth of talent and how to develop your talent

CONNECT WITH CARRIE:

Website | Artist Strong | Facebook

CONNECT WITH CREATIVITY SCHOOL:

Thank you so much for listening!

Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and connect with me online!

Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

If you have any questions or comments for the show, click here

We often hear about how necessary it is to hustle, grind and work until we're exhausted and burned out when starting a new business. But is it possible to build a successful business by intentionally growing it slow and without the pressure to grow as quickly as possible?

This week on Creativity School, I talk to Jessica Gonzalez, a beekeeper and the founder of Happy Organics, a wellness company that provides honey and CBD products for the body and mind. Jessica shares her journey to accidentally starting her company during a time when she was burned out and exploring the things that made her happy after quitting a tech company she founded. She began helping her father with his bees when he got diagnosed with terminal cancer, and developed honey and CBD products to help with his pain and anxiety. When people started asking to buy them, she had a business.

Jessica shares how she was able to keep her company going through the devastating loss of her dad, how her incredible pain became her purpose, and how she's been able to successfully grow her company slowly and at her own pace by being focused on her values and the bigger picture.

**Today's episode is brought to you by Audible! If you want to get started with a free audiobook download and 30 day free trial head over to at www.creativityschoolpodcast.com/audible.

Mentioned in this episode:

• How Jessica began helping her father with his bees when he got diagnosed with terminal cancer

• How she was able to start Happy Organics while experiencing the devastating loss of her father

• How to create transformation in your life without experiencing something painful or devastating

• Why she grew her business slow and without a plan

• The importance of letting yourself feel bad

CONNECT WITH JESSICA:

Website | Instagram

CONNECT WITH CREATIVITY SCHOOL:

Thank you so much for listening!

Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and connect with me online!

Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

If you have any questions or comments for the show, click here

How do we finally let go of perfectionism and experience the magic that unfolds when we create with complete freedom?

This week on Creativity School, we dig into how perfectionism is poison and not something to be proud of with Carrie Brummer. Carrie is a visual artist and has had work displayed in The Smithsonian and The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She's also an art educator, and the founder of Artist Strong, a community that supports people by giving them the permission to be creative and the tools to develop their unique voice.

We talk about how it took a life threatening health experience for Carrie to finally let go of the need to create art that was perfect, and in the process discover the incredible things that can happen in your life and work when you let go and create without pressure. Carrie shares actionable steps we can take to release our need for perfection, how to let go of the myth of talent, and how to trust your intuition when creating your work.

**Today's episode is brought to you by Audible! If you want to get started with a free audiobook download and 30 day free trial head over to at www.creativityschoolpodcast.com/audible.

Mentioned in this episode:

• How Carrie entered the world of art education despite her parents and teachers telling her it wasn't practical to pursue a career in the arts

• How a life threatening health experience was a catalyst for her to let go of perfectionism and the need to please others in her work

• The negative side of perfectionism

• The myth of talent and how to develop your talent

• Grace on Carrie's Series "How to Be an Artist"

CONNECT WITH CARRIE:

Website | Artist Strong | Facebook

CONNECT WITH CREATIVITY SCHOOL:

Thank you so much for listening!

Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and connect with me online!

Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

If you have any questions or comments for the show, click here

This week on Creativity School, I share 3 simple secrets to being successful with your creative work, especially if you want to build a long-lasting career. The ideas in this episode are the things that have helped me succeed as a creative entrepreneur and artist, and if you can stay committed to these tips - THEY WORK!

Also listen in the introduction to find out the inspiring way Lulu Wang, director and writer of the critically acclaimed film The Farewell, overcame obstacles to make her film exactly the way she wanted, and the lessons we can learn from her experience.

**Today's episode is brought to you by Audible! If you want to get started with a free audiobook download and 30 day free trial head over to at www.creativityschoolpodcast.com/audible.

Resources:

• 'The Farewell': Lulu Wang Made the Year's Most Exciting Hit By Refusing to Whitewash It

CONNECT WITH CREATIVITY SCHOOL:

Thank you so much for listening!

Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and connect with me online!

Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

If you have any questions or comments for the show, click here