Big Dreams & Little Things

Big Dreams & Little Things

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Big Dreams & Little Things episodes

  • Summer Rewind: The Victory Dance:

    This summer, we are revisiting a small handful of episodes we love the most, the ones we feel need to be heard again and again. Each one gets a brand new intro plus highlights from the reflection session recorded the week the original episode aired. Old favorites, fresh context, one combined listen. Grab a sun chair, or an umbrella if it is raining where you are, and settle in.


    Episode Overview

    You hit publish. You finish the project. You finally complete that thing you have been working on for weeks, and then, silence. No confetti. No applause. Just you, your laptop, and the quiet that follows doing something brave.

    In this Summer Rewind, Maria and Karina revisit the art and science of small wins, why they matter, how to celebrate them, and how tiny victories build real creative momentum. Along the way, they share a personal update: podcast, community, and platform now share one name, Big Dreams and Little Things.

    You will hear the story behind Phoebe Waller-Bridge's private rituals while writing Fleabag, Karina's golden stars coaching story, and why solopreneurs especially need to become their own hype person. Plus the science of dopamine, visual momentum, and why celebrating a win protects your mental health as much as it fuels your next one.


    Topics Covered
    • Why small wins matter more than you think
    • Phoebe Waller-Bridge's private creative rituals while writing Fleabag
    • Karina's golden stars coaching story
    • Building your own celebration list, small, medium, and large
    • The science of celebrating: dopamine, momentum, and stress reduction
    • Tiny Experiments: a hum reset and a one-win-a-day practice
    • Announcing our new name, Big Dreams and Little Things
    Timestamps

    00:00 Intro: a quiet solo celebration after publishing an episode 01:02 Welcome and episode theme, small wins nobody claps for 02:07 Check-ins: Karina's "reload," Maria's school submission 03:37 Announcement: podcast, community, and platform all named Big Dreams and Little Things 04:48 Small wins can be invisible, leading into the Phoebe Waller-Bridge story 05:22 Feature story: Phoebe Waller-Bridge's private rituals while writing Fleabag 08:09 Karina's "golden stars" coaching story 09:47 Karina's birthday celebration, a recharge weekend at a boutique hotel in Visby 11:37 Why celebration matters, and why not to wait for big milestones 12:29 Building a personal list of small, medium, and large celebrations 14:08 Listener prompt: what deserves celebration today, and what are you proud of this week 15:00 Personal celebration styles: pampering, small luxuries, Charlotte's tea and Netflix ritual from Episode 9 16:04 Free ways to celebrate: music and dance, artist dates, solo movies 16:44 The science of celebrating: dopamine, visual momentum, stress reduction, growth, feedback loops 19:52 Tiny Experiments: Maria's hum reset (with a handwashing-song duet), Karina's one-win-a-day practice 25:53 Closing thoughts: make your own confetti list, don't wait for validation 26:32 Sign-off: Instagram, newsletter, and Ignite 27:19 Outro song


    Links mentioned

    Ignite waitlist: ectahub.net/ecta-ignite Instagram: instagram.com/bigdreamsandlittlethings Newsletter: ectahub.net/weekletter Referenced, Episode 9, "How to Stay Creative, Clear, and Connected" (Charlotte's celebration ritual): Spotify episode


    Full show notes at: ectahub.net/victory-dance


    Connect With Us

    Website: www.ectahub.net

    Podcast Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Podcast Facebook: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  • Summer Rewind: Proving it's never too late

    This summer, we are revisiting a small handful of episodes we love the most, the ones we feel need to be heard again and again. Each one gets a brand new intro plus highlights from the reflection session recorded the week the original episode aired. Old favorites, fresh context, one combined listen. Grab a sun chair, or an umbrella if it is raining where you are, and settle in.



    Episode Overview

    What if the best chapter of your life… hasn’t even started yet?

    In this warm, inspiring, and truth-telling episode, Karina and Maria crack open the myth that success has an age limit. Whether you’ve been dreaming of starting something new or quietly wondering “Is this all there is?” this conversation is your invitation to tune in, turn toward the whisper, and start (or restart) with purpose.

    You’ll hear stories of late bloomers who made magic well past their “prime,” personal reflections from your hosts (with all the real-life messiness), and a mini science deep dive into how your brain actually supports reinvention. Plus, we’re launching a brand-new segment: Tiny Experiments! Small actions, big shifts. Let’s go.



    Memorable Quotes

    “Big changes don’t have to start big. They can begin with a whisper, a sketch, a 20-minute experiment.” – Karina

    “You are not behind. You are not expired. You are arriving—right on time.” – Maria

    “I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life wondering what might’ve happened if I hadn’t.” – Vera Wang (featured story)

    “Your brain might say ‘this is scary,’ but your spirit is saying, ‘this is true.’” – Maria

    “Show up, speak up, and never skip the victory dance!” – Karina & Maria



    Topics Covered
    • Why it's never too late to begin again
    • The story of Vera Wang’s incredible career pivot at 40
    • Neuroscience behind fear, courage, and change (hello, Amygdala!)
    • Maria and Karina’s personal reinvention stories
    • Tiny Experiments: how 20 minutes a day can shift your whole vibe
    • Why your purpose doesn’t expire with your birthday
    • Famous “late bloomers” who prove the best may come after midlife
    • How small actions build momentum (and confidence!)
    Resources & Recommendations
    • Vera Wang’s origin story – If you didn’t already love her designs, you will love her grit.
    • Harvard Adult Development Study – Decades of proof that meaning leads to longevity and joy.
    • Mentioned: ECtA Speed Accountability Tool – Free download to help you get started on your “What if?”

    Book rec: You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay – the classic that changed Karina's path.



    Connect with us:

    Sign up for Backstage, our weekly newsletter: ectahub.net/weekletter

    Find us on Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Did this episode resonate? Share it with a musician, writer, or fellow freelancer who needs to hear it.



    And leave us a review — it helps more creatives find the show.Show up. Speak up. And never miss the victory dance.Connect With Us

    Website: www.ectahub.net

    Podcast Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Podcast Facebook: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min
  • Summer Rewind: Imposter Syndrome
    This summer, we are revisiting a small handful of episodes we love the most, the ones we feel need to be heard again and again. Each one gets a brand new intro plus highlights from the reflection session recorded the week the original episode aired. Old favorites, fresh context, one combined listen. Grab a sun chair, or an umbrella if it is raining where you are, and settle in.
    Episode Overview

    In the second episode of Big Dreams & Little Things, hosts Maria and Karina explore that nagging feeling that you don't belong, that your success is just luck, or that any moment now, someone will find out you're a fraud. From J.K. Rowling to Paul McCartney, we discover how even the world's most successful creators battle with feeling like imposters - and what you can do when that voice in your head says you're not good enough.



    Topics Covered
    • The universal experience of imposter syndrome and how it affects everyone
    • J.K. Rowling's journey from self-doubt to transforming her vulnerability into strength
    • Famous creatives who battled imposter syndrome (Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Maya Angelou, John Steinbeck)
    • Maria's personal experience returning to university in her 40s
    • Original research by Clance and Imes in the 1970s
    • How childhood experiences with perfectionism and criticism can plant the seeds of imposter syndrome
    • A practical 5-minute method to combat imposter syndrome


    MORE SHOWNOTES: https://ectahub.net/episode-2-imposter-syndrome-feeling-like-a-fraud-when-youre-actually-not/


    Connect with us:

    Sign up for Backstage, our weekly newsletter: ectahub.net/weekletter

    Find us on Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Did this episode resonate? Share it with a musician, writer, or fellow freelancer who needs to hear it.





    And leave us a review — it helps more creatives find the show.Show up. Speak up. And never miss the victory dance.

    Connect With Us

    Website: www.ectahub.net

    Podcast Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Podcast Facebook: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min
  • Summer Rewind: The Power of Community

    This summer, on the Big Dreams and Little Things podcast, we are revisiting a small handful of episodes we love the most, the ones we feel need to be heard again and again. Each one gets a brand new intro plus highlights from the reflection session recorded the week the original episode aired. Old favorites, fresh context, one combined listen. Grab a sun chair, or an umbrella if it is raining where you are, and settle in.



    Episode Overview

    This week's Summer Rewind takes you back to Episode 22, one of our absolute favorites. It travels to London in 1905 and the Thursday night gatherings that formed the Bloomsbury Group, a small circle of friends who went on to shape art, literature, and economics. From Virginia Woolf's courage to break literary rules to Vanessa Bell's fearless creativity, this episode explores how a supportive community fuels autonomy, creativity, resilience, and wellbeing.

    You will hear the science behind why community is biologically essential for creative people, not simply a nice extra, and how isolation affects health, motivation, and creative output. Karina and Maria also share personal stories about moving abroad and rebuilding community from scratch. This summer edition weaves in moments from the original reflection session, so the story and the science play as one combined conversation.



    Topics Covered
    • The Bloomsbury Group and their Thursday night gatherings
    • Why community and accountability fuel creativity and wellbeing
    • The health cost of loneliness, backed by research
    • Self-determination theory and our need to belong
    • Social contagion and mirror neurons: how community shapes behavior
    • Dunbar's Number and what "meaningful connection" really means
    • Vulnerability as the birthplace of creativity (Brené Brown)
    • Five elements of a truly supportive community
    • Building your own version of a Thursday evening


    Join the Big Dreams community, free until October 2026 big-dreams-little-things-no885w.subscribepage.io

    Apply for Ignite and get things done with creative peers ectahub.net/ecta-ignite


    For full link list see: https://ectahub.net/community/

    Connect With Us

    Website: www.ectahub.net

    Podcast Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Podcast Facebook: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min
  • Summer Rewind: Starting Scrappy
    This summer, we are revisiting a small handful of episodes we love the most, the ones we feel need to be heard again and again. Each one gets a brand new intro plus highlights from the reflection session recorded the week the original episode aired. Old favorites, fresh context, one combined listen. Grab a sun chair, or an umbrella if it is raining where you are, and settle in.
    Episode Overview

    Welcome to a revisit to the very first episode of Big Dreams & Little Things! Hosts Karina Kampe (certified transformational coach, artist, creative entrepreneur, and songwriter) and Maria Wronski-Ellis (artist, songwriter, educator, and author of The Mindful Songwriter dive into why allowing yourself to "start scrappy" might be the most powerful approach to achieving your dreams. They explore the trap of waiting for perfect conditions instead of taking action, share personal stories and inspirational examples from both literature and real life, and provide practical challenges to help you get moving on your goals—even when everything isn't perfectly aligned.




    Topics Covered
    • The trap of perfectionism and how it prevents action
    • The concept of "starting scrappy" as a mindset for achievement
    • Shonda Rhimes' transformative "Year of Yes" and how it changed her life
    • How ideas exist "in the air" and need to be acted upon (Elizabeth Gilbert's concept)
    • The liberation that comes with age and caring less about others' opinions
    • The power of stepping outside comfort zones (Karina's audition story)
    • Research showing that limited resources often fuel innovation and success
    • How major companies like Amazon, Apple, and Airbnb started with humble beginnings
    • The "make do" approach that leads to entrepreneurial success






    Free Download: The Starting Scrappy Challenge

    Ready to put what you've learned into action? We've created a special Starting Scrappy Challenge to help you begin your journey!


    https://big-dreams-little-things.kit.com/d6d125b127


    MORE SHOWNOTES: https://ectahub.net/episode-1-starting-scrappy-overcoming-perfectionism-2/





    Connect with us:

    Sign up for Backstage, our weekly newsletter: ectahub.net/weekletter

    Find us on Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Did this episode resonate? Share it with a musician, writer, or fellow freelancer who needs to hear it.




    And leave us a review — it helps more creatives find the show.Show up. Speak up. And never miss the victory dance.











    Connect With Us

    Website: www.ectahub.net

    Podcast Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Podcast Facebook: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  • Chasing Dreams
    Season 3, Episode 34 – Season FinaleChasing Dreams: How Your Creative Dreams Change as You Do

    Dreams rarely stay the same.

    The dream you had at twenty may not be the dream you carry today—and that's not failure. It's growth.

    In this Season 3 finale, Maria and Karina reflect on how our creative dreams evolve as life changes. Parenthood, travel, career shifts, unexpected detours, and simply becoming who we're meant to be all shape the dreams we pursue.

    Together, they explore why dreams matter, how they give our creativity direction, and why letting a dream change can be one of the healthiest things we ever do.

    The episode also looks back on an incredible third season of conversations about creativity, courage, purpose, community, and showing up—one small step at a time.



    In this episode
    • Why dreams give our creativity direction
    • How creative dreams change as we grow
    • The difference between dreams and goals
    • Knowing when you've outgrown a dream
    • Protecting your dreams—or sharing them with the world
    • Why success often looks different than we imagined
    • How creativity becomes a lifelong relationship rather than a destination
    Story Spotlight

    This week's creative story features Louise Bourgeois.

    From repairing tapestries as a child in Paris to becoming one of the world's most celebrated artists decades later, Louise Bourgeois reminds us that meaningful creative work isn't about overnight success.

    She spent over seventy years following her curiosity, making the work, and returning to the studio long before the world took notice.

    Her story is a powerful reminder that the dream isn't waiting for recognition.

    The dream is the work itself.



    The Science Behind Dreams

    Research in psychology suggests that humans are future-oriented by nature.

    Having a meaningful dream gives us purpose, builds resilience, and helps us navigate setbacks. Imagining a meaningful future also activates dopamine—the brain chemical involved in motivation and pursuing goals.

    We also explore the concept of adaptive persistence—the ability to stay true to your deeper purpose while allowing the shape of your dream to evolve as you grow.

    Sometimes the dream changes.

    The calling doesn't.



    This Week's Backstage Community Guest

    We're delighted to feature Belinda Robles—a musician, songwriter, producer, and music director with more than 30 years of experience in the music industry, including music supervision and sync for film and television.


    Summer Break

    We'll be taking a short break over the summer, but we're not disappearing.

    Throughout the coming weeks we'll be revisiting some of our favourite episodes from previous seasons, with fresh introductions and reflections on why these conversations still matter today.

    Whether you're listening for the first time or returning to an old favourite, we hope they'll keep you inspired all summer long.

    We'll be back after the break with a brand-new season of Big Dreams & Little Things.


    Links and resources:

    Sign up for Backstage, our weekly newsletter: ectahub.net/weekletter

    Find us on Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Did this episode resonate? Share it with a musician, writer, or fellow freelancer who needs to hear it.





    And leave us a review — it helps more creatives find the show.Show up. Speak up. And never miss the victory dance.
    Join the Conversation

    What's your creative dream today?

    Has it changed over the years?

    And what's your win this week—even the tiniest one?

    Share it with us on Instagram @bigdreamsandlittlethings.

    If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you followed the podcast, left a review, and shared it with a fellow creative. Every recommendation helps us reach more dreamers, makers, freelancers, and solo entrepreneurs around the world.

    Until next season—

    Keep dreaming big. Remember the little things.

    Connect With Us

    Website: www.ectahub.net

    Podcast Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Podcast Facebook: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  • The Science of Showing Up — When the Lone Wolf Finds Her People

    What if the thing standing between you and your creative momentum is not a lack of discipline — but a lack of visibility?

    In this special midsummer episode, Karina shares the findings from her completed research study on the ECtA accountability method — 14 creative entrepreneurs, six countries, 12 weeks. What she found surprised even her.

    We also sit down with one of Sweden's most celebrated musicians, Merit Hemmingsson — inducted into the Swedish Music Hall of Fame in 2017, and at 85 still recording and performing. Her story of going from a tiny village in Jämtland to sitting in with Miles Davis at Birdland in New York to a new album in September, What a third act!



    In this episode:

    The five themes Karina found before the study

    — fleeting momentum, the popcorn brain, the lone wolf, the glass lid, and higher purpose — and what shifted after 12 weeks of structured accountability meetings with the ECtA Study.


    Why momentum feels invisible when you work alone, and how speaking your progress out loud in front of people who truly understand changes everything.


    Merit Hemmingsson on six decades of creative life, following her inner voice, the all-female jazz band she took from New York to Sweden in the 1960s, the music that became her medicine, and what it really means to keep choosing your work, decade after decade.


    The science behind why it works — self-determination theory, the progress principle (Amabile and Kramer), and what it means when the group makes the invisible visible.



    Timestamps:

    00:00 Intro · 02:07 Groundwork for ECtA · 02:57 What the study examined · 03:18 The participants · 04:08 Karina as participant · 05:03 Study design · 05:34 Theme 1: Fleeting momentum · 07:41 Theme 2: Popcorn brain · 08:46 Theme 3: Lone wolf · 09:50 Three functions of others · 11:48 Theme 4: Glass lid · 12:58 Theme 5: Higher purpose · 16:12 Introducing Merit · 18:01 Who Merit is · 21:33 New York and Girl Stars · 22:29 Playing with Miles Davis · 27:00 Forming the band · 33:18 The Hammond B3 · 36:02 Becoming a mother · 38:00 The second act · 39:04 Move to Gotland · 43:01 Music as medicine · 44:01 Celebrating wins · 47:51 What happened after 12 weeks · 49:09 Participants' voices · 01:01:00 Momentum becomes visible · 01:02:46 Choosing your own train · 01:03:14 The wolf finds her pack · 01:05:50 Mirroring courage and identity · 01:08:37 Higher purpose grows · 01:09:42 Self-Determination Theory · 01:14:30 Progress Principle · 01:17:30 Takeaways · 01:18:33 Ignite course in September · 01:19:30 Outro



    Key takeaways:



    • When momentum feels distant, the answer is often visibility. You are probably already moving — you just need a way to see it.
    • The loneliness of creative work has three distinct layers: structure, feedback, and community. Finding one is the start. All three is the goal.
    • Fifteen minutes of uninterrupted space to speak your truth out loud, with people who genuinely understand, can move something that has been still for years.
    • Merit Hemmingsson is 85 and still on stage. The third act is wide open.




    Featured guest:

    Merit Hemmingsson, Hammond organist, composer and singer, Swedish Music Hall of Fame 2017

    Website: www.meritone.se

    Instagram: @mmmmerit

    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5xoFJP7qzaMcSAghFZXI4a?si=AqCJM96VR0emKW1LTFE5kw

    Merit Sommarprat: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5jgGIWQiuo4gDscYxBEVbw?si=52abfbb9eb5d4e30



    The science behind it:

    Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan): selfdeterminationtheory.org

    The Progress Principle (Amabile & Kramer), Harvard Business Review: hbr.org/2011/05/the-power-of-small-wins

    Sense of Coherence (Antonovsky): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sense_of_coherence


    Links and resources:

    Sign up for Backstage, our weekly newsletter: ectahub.net/weekletter

    Find us on Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Did this episode resonate? Share it with a musician, writer, or fellow freelancer who needs to hear it.




    And leave us a review — it helps more creatives find the show.Show up. Speak up. And never miss the victory dance.Connect With Us

    Website: www.ectahub.net

    Podcast Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Podcast Facebook: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr 9 min
  • Side Hustles, Day Jobs & Creative Guilt

    You're talented. You know you are.

    But talent doesn't pay the rent.

    In this honest and deeply relatable conversation, hosts Karina Kampe (certified transformational coach, artist, creative entrepreneur, and songwriter) and Maria Wronski-Ellis (artist, songwriter, educator, and author of the upcoming The Mindful Songwriter) explore the hidden reality that so many creatives face: balancing artistic dreams with side hustles, day jobs, and the guilt that comes with not creating as much as you'd like.

    Why do so many artists feel ashamed of having a day job? Why do we glorify struggle? And who benefits from the belief that "real artists" should suffer for their craft?

    Through personal stories, neuroscience, creative coaching insights, and the fascinating journey of Debbie Harry before Blondie became famous, Karina and Maria unpack what success really means when you're trying to make art and survive at the same time.

    If you've ever wondered whether you're still a "real creative" while working 40+ hours a week, this episode is for you.

    Topics Covered

    Creative Identity vs Employment

    • Why creativity is more than a career choice
    • The emotional shock of leaving art school and entering the real world
    • Feeling embarrassed about having a day job

    The Myth of the Full-Time Artist

    • Why we only see the highlight reel
    • Social media and creative comparison
    • Redefining success on your own terms

    The Hidden Cost of Side Hustles

    • 60-80 hour work weeks
    • Creative exhaustion and chronic half-burnout
    • Why so many creatives feel guilty all the time

    Debbie Harry Before Blondie

    • Secretarial work, waitressing, and being a Playboy Bunny
    • Life in 1970s New York City
    • Building a creative career one small gig at a time

    The Science of Creativity & Energy

    • Why mornings often beat midnight for creative work
    • Decision fatigue and creative overwhelm
    • The "One Ball at a Time" productivity approach

    The Authenticity Tax

    • Why society romanticizes creative struggle
    • The pressure to suffer in order to be taken seriously
    • How capitalism benefits from underpaid creatives

    Join the ECtA Community

    Looking for creative support, accountability, and a place where people actually understand what it's like to balance art and life?

    Explore https://ectahub.net

    And don't forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletter:

    https://ectahub.net/weekletter

    Connect With Us

    Instagram, Facebook, Youtube:

    @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Connect With Us

    Website: www.ectahub.net

    Podcast Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Podcast Facebook: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min
  • Pricing Your Worth: The Money Conversation Every Creative Needs to Have
    Someone asks what you charge. And you tell them. No anxiety. No wondering if you are correct. Just you, knowing your worth.


    This episode is the money conversation every creative needs to have. Why pricing feels impossible when what you are selling is so personal.

    What happens when you sign a deal before you understand what it means. And how to walk into any pricing conversation and feel good about what you are doing.

    We tell the full story of Taylor Swift — from a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania to buying back every note she ever recorded. We look at TLC, Prince, Billy Joel and Dolly Parton. We dig into the psychology of pricing and what it really means to sell results, not hours. And we share concrete tools for the cold call, the negotiation, and the contract.

    Plus Backstage Community with singer-songwriter and producer Elin Ruth Sigvardsson — on self-doubt, stage fright, the break from music that taught her everything, and how she learned to celebrate her wins.

    And a free Pricing Conversation Guide to download — something to have in front of you during your next sales call.


    Download the Free Pricing Conversation Guide


    References & People Mentioned

    •         Taylor Swift and the re-recording of her masters

    •         TLC and the 360 deal — CrazySexyCool (1994)

    •         Prince — writing “Slave” on his face during the Warner Brothers dispute

    •         Billy Joel — the accountant story and Elton John taking him on tour

    •         Dolly Parton — saying no to Elvis on I Will Always Love You to keep her rights

    •         Robbie Williams — hearing a hit single made with his voice that he had nothing to do with

    •         Rachel Zoe — “get equity” (Instagram reel)

    •         Dan Ariely, Predictably Irrational — behavioral economics and pricing psychology


    Elin Ruth Sigvardsson

    Instagram: @elinruthmusic Facebook: Elin Ruth Sigvardsson

    Spotify



    Find Us

    Website: ectahub.net Newsletter: ectahub.net/weekletter Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings Facebook: @bigdreamsandlittlethings YouTube: @bigdreamsandlittlethings


    Please write a review and follow!



    #creativepodcast #creativelife #accountability #podcastforcreatives #independentartists #knowyourworth #pricingforfreelancers #creativemotivation

    Connect With Us

    Website: www.ectahub.net

    Podcast Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Podcast Facebook: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min
  • Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Why Creatives Hold Themselves Back
    Episode Overview

    Hosted by Karina Kampe and Maria Wronski-Ellis, Big Dreams & Little Things is the podcast for creatives, freelancers, and solo entrepreneurs who want to move forward one small step at a time.

    This week, Maria and Karina dive into a deeply human question:

    Why do we sometimes disappear right when things are finally starting to work?

    From procrastination and perfectionism to the fear of being fully seen, this episode explores how the nervous system responds to visibility — and why holding back doesn’t always mean failure or laziness. Sometimes, it means we’re protecting something deeply personal.

    Through the story of Emily Dickinson, reflections on creativity and identity, and insights from psychology and neuroscience, Maria and Karina unpack:

    • The hidden emotional cost of visibility
    • Why creatives often fear success more than failure
    • The tension between wanting to be seen and wanting to stay safe
    • How accountability and community help us keep creating
    Topics Covered
    • Creative visibility and nervous system regulation
    • Self-sabotage vs self-protection
    • The psychology of being seen
    • Emily Dickinson and hidden creative brilliance
    • Perfectionism and procrastination
    • Imposter syndrome and identity shifts
    • Why accountability helps creatives grow
    • Building creative confidence through small steps
    • The importance of community for artists and freelancers
    Memorable Quotes

    “Your nervous system is wired for safety — not success.”

    “Maybe she chose to keep her work whole, even if it meant keeping it hidden.”

    “Fear doesn’t disappear when you grow. New level, new fear.”

    “It’s not fearlessness. It’s fear + presence instead of fear + avoidance.”

    “You don’t have to go from private to public overnight.”


    Resources Mentioned

    📖 Emily Dickinson’s Poem

    “Tell all the Truth but tell it slant —”

    If you’ve never read Emily Dickinson before, this poem is such a beautiful doorway into her inner world (and honestly… painfully relatable for creatives trying to share their work gently).

    📚 Susan Jeffers

    Karina references the idea that fear doesn’t disappear as we grow — we simply expand our capacity to move with it.

    A good starting point:

    • Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers


    Backstage Community Spotlight

    Our creative in focus this week is the illustrator and painter Jenny Svenberg.

    Picture a dark jazz club in Stockholm. In the back, a woman is sketching fast. Bold colours and pen lines. Quick pencil strokes to capture the music and the faces on stage. This is Jenny at work.


    Connect With Us

    Come say hello and share your win of the week — even the tiniest one.

    Instagram:

    @bigdreamsandlittlethings




    Find Us

    Website: ectahub.net Newsletter: ectahub.net/weekletter Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings Facebook: @bigdreamsandlittlethings YouTube: @bigdreamsandlittlethings




    #creativepodcast #creativelife #accountability #podcastforcreatives #independentartists #knowyourworth #pricingforfreelancers #creativemotivation


    Connect With Us

    Website: www.ectahub.net

    Podcast Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Podcast Facebook: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min

About Big Dreams & Little Things

From the publisher's feed


The podcast for independent artists, writers, freelancers and creatives. We talk about the real creative life, the mess and the magic -

with accountability, a supportive community,…