Creative Pep Talk

By 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... more

4.8

19911,991 ratings

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FAQs about Creative Pep Talk:

How many episodes does Creative Pep Talk have?

The podcast currently has 691 episodes available.

Creative Pep Talk episodes:

February 18, 2026 543 - 3 Shifts to Make if You Feel Off Creatively
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word http://invisiblethings.co
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It is VERY easy to get off balance as a creative person because creativity is a delicate balance of many things. In this episode, we will explore 3 areas that require creative tension and how to diagnose where you may be off and need a pivot.
SHOW NOTES:
Del the Funky Homosapien https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_the_Funky_Homosapien
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

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...more
40min
February 18, 2026 Introducing Planet Visionaries
Want to hear bold ideas and big solutions for our planet? We have been listening to Alex Honnold as he hosts Planet Visionaries, in partnership with the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative. Each week, Alex spotlights innovators who are not just imagining a better future but actively creating it. Go check it out and hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
...more
3min
February 11, 2026 542 - When to Reboot Your Work + A Better Option than Beating Yourself Up with Zak Rosen
Feeling lost on the creative journey? Download our 7 step Creative Career Path Handbooklet for FREE by signing up to our newsletter: http://andyjpizza.substack.com
---
My editor Conner loved this episode, which is always a good sign!
Two reasons to listen to this:
1 - If your work feels stale or a long term project feels stuck, and you have been wondering if you need to switch it up, reboot, or pivot, this episode is for you. We talk a lot about how to navigate this with Zak Rosen, who just did a big rebrand of his podcast.
2 - You are sick and tired of fighting yourself on everything. This is the time of year when New Year’s Resolutions have gone up in flames. If that’s your situation, Zak asks me what thing is “weirdly helpful” to me, and it addresses this frustration head-on!
Hope you love the episode!

SHOW NOTES:
Zak Rosen
https://zakrosen.com/about
Weirdly Helpful
https://weirdlyhelpful.show
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

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
...more
56min
February 04, 2026 541 - Are You Afraid of The Art? How to Get Past the Fear and Have Fun Again
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word!
---
This episode is for you if:
1 - The idea of making something often feels scary.
2 - You don’t like your work anymore.
3 - You forgot why this used to be fun.
4 - You want to stand out in your field but don’t know how.
5 - You want an exercise that unlocks the flowy fun feeling part of your creative brain.
SHOW NOTES:
Stranger Things
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stranger_Things
Angus Fletcher - Wonderworks / Primal Intelligence
https://www.angusfletcher.co

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

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...more
44min
January 28, 2026 540 - Why the Creative Path Has to Be Twisty and Turny with Nishant Jain
Pre-Order My New Book Mysterious Things Here
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It’s so easy to forget what this is all about. If you need a reminder to embrace imperfection as part of your flavor, and rekindle your drive to just go out and make stuff you love about things you’re interested in, this is your episode!!
Guest Nishant Jain drops a billion good gems here. We talk about his sneaky public drawing practice, his inspiring philosophy around creativity and his new book “Make Sneaky Art”.
I could have talked to Nishant for another hour or more!
This will fuel your creative tank!

SHOW NOTES:
Nishant Jain https://www.sneakyartist.com
Book: Make Sneaky Art https://www.sneakyartist.com/the-book
Kendyll Hillegas http://www.kendyllhillegas.com
Roald Dahl https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Dahl
Quentin Blake https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quentin_Blake
Sneaky Art Podcast - Hosted by Nishant Jain https://www.sneakyartist.com/podcast
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

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
...more
1h 24min
January 21, 2026 539 - This Super Easy Thing Will Make A Massive Impact On Your Creative Practice
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word!
---
Do you have a toxic relationship with goal setting and New Year’s resolutions? Have you already given up this year?!
If so, this episode is for you. In this episode, we will explore the easy and impactful starting place that can help you make this season count for your creative practice.
At the end, I share the “Select Your Seed” Venn diagram exercise for figuring out where to focus your energy and how to kick things off in an easy, deep, holistic way.

SHOW NOTES:
Fresh Start Psychology
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/4000-mondays/202412/fresh-starts-the-psychology-behind-new-year-motivation/amp
Study on Result Goals vs Process Goals
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1750984X.2022.2116723#abstract
The One Thing https://the1thing.com
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

SPONSORS:
SQUARESPACE
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK
AEROPRESS
Check out Aeropress and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal: https://aeropress.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
39min
January 14, 2026 538 - Find Your Point of View, Story Insights, and Artist / Audience Dynamics with Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen
Have you ever heard someone say that making creative work is about having a “point of view”? It sounds right, but what does it mean and how do you find yours?
I can’t think of any creatives that have a more compelling sense of their “point of view” than my guests today. Author Mac Barnett and author-illustrator Jon Klassen have such a strong voice, and I have been longing to have them both on the show for such a long time!!
This is an instant all-timer episode for me. These two legends from the picture book world just knocked it out of the park, and we have an incredible chat exploring how to find your point of view, the artist/audience relationship, storytelling, and so much more.
Buckle up. This mega episode starts off with a bang and just gets better and better all the way til the end! This episode will make for a great companion for a long creative session or long drive!
Hope you love it as much as I did!

SHOW NOTES:
Substack: "Looking at Picture Books"
https://lookingatpicturebooks.substack.com
"Mac B. Spy Kid"
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=%22Mac+B.+Spy+Kid%22&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
"The Skull" by Jon Klassen
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/725351/the-skull-by-jon-klassen-illustrated-by-jon-klassen/
"Sam and Dave Dig a Hole" by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
https://www.macbarnett.com/sam-dave-dig-a-hole
"Extra Yarn"
https://www.macbarnett.com/extra-yarn
"Where the Wild Things Are"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_the_Wild_Things_Are
"Goodnight Moon"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodnight_Moon
"The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Remains_of_the_Day
"Swim in a Pond in the Rain" by George Saunders
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/609280/a-swim-in-a-pond-in-the-rain-by-george-saunders/
"Outside Over There" by Maurice Sendak
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outside_Over_There
"Sam and the Firefly" by P.D. Eastman
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_and_the_Firefly
"Dead Souls" by Nikolai Gogol
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Souls
"Let the Right One In"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_the_Right_One_In_(film)
"Ponyo"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponyo
"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Sunshine_of_the_Spotless_Mind
"Mysterious Things" by Andy J. Pizza and Sophie Miller
http://invisiblethings.co
"Making Comics" by Scott McCloud
https://www.scottmccloud.com/makingcomics/
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

SPONSORS:
SQUARESPACE
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK
AEROPRESS
Check out Aeropress and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal: https://aeropress.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 54min
January 07, 2026 537 - Reignite Creative Drive with This Energizing New Year's Exercise
Pre-Order “Mysterious Things”
---
How do you get excited for the New Year when things feel so unstable? How do you get jazzed about planning and goals, when you don’t know what future you’re planning for?
In times like these, I find it more effective to tap into the creative drives you already have, than working towards a future that may or may not come to pass. Tune in to check out the 3 creative drives and figure out which you can employ today to get excited about making creative work again!

SHOW NOTES:
Mysterious Things by Andy J. Pizza and Sophie Miller
http://invisiblethings.co
Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman
https://www.oliverburkeman.com/fourthousandweeks
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

SPONSORS:
SQUARESPACE
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK
AEROPRESS
Check out Aeropress and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal: https://aeropress.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
48min
December 24, 2025 536 - Rest and Retreat as a Neurodivergent Creative with Katherine May
This is a special HOLIDAY episode featuring the chat I had on Katherine May’s Podcast “The Clearing” where guests explore their ideal real or fantasy retreat. Here’s what Katherine said about the episode:
The ADHD and autistic tendency to rest in motion is fully realised in American author and illustrator Andy J. Pizza’s vision of the ideal retreat. Choosing an extraordinary fictional setting which incorporates an ingenious method of traveling the world, this episode showcases the wonder of a brilliantly creative, neurodivergent brain.
Along the way, and with many fascinating tangents, Andy and Katherine discuss the power of Miyazaki films, their shared love of Fraggle Rock and longing for direction from the universe.
A meticulously thought out and fully realised world that accommodates his own personal experience of ADHD, Andy unveils the most beautifully zany and imaginative dreamscape. An absolute treat.

SHOW NOTES:
Fraggle Rock
Last of the Summer Wine Wiki
The Master and his Emissary book about left and right brain
The Little Prince
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

SPONSORS:
SQUARESPACE
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK
AEROPRESS
Check out Aeropress and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal: https://aeropress.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 14min
December 17, 2025 535 - If You Only Listen to One Episode of this Podcast This Year Make it This One
Feeling lost on the creative journey? Download our 7 step Creative Career Path Handbooklet for FREE by signing up to our newsletter: http://andyjpizza.substack.com
---
The Creative Pep Talk Top 5 BEST IDEAS from 2025.
This is a FUN BLITZ through the most essential ideas and tactics from our past year of episodes.
This was exciting and helpful for me to review, and I can’t wait for you to hear this jam packed, end of year episode!
‌
SHOW NOTES:
502 - How to Beat the Analysis Paralysis of "The Right Path"
502 - How to Beat the Analysis Paralysis of "The Right Path"

513 - Why Creatives Have to Build Habits Differently and How to Do It
513 - Why Creatives Have to Build Habits Differently and How to Do It

515 - Want to Quit Social Media? 3 Essential Considerations for Any Creative Practice
515 - Want to Quit Social Media? 3 Essential Considerations for Any Creative Practice

529 - Escape Your Creative Rut with This 5 Part Creative Hygiene Checklist
529 - Escape Your Creative Rut with This 5 Part Creative Hygiene Checklist

532 - THIS is Your Creative Secret Weapon that You’re Ignoring
532 - THIS is Your Creative Secret Weapon that You’re Ignoring

Petey USA on Rainn Wilson’s Soul Boom
Petey USA Leans Into Life

Iain McGilchrist - Master and His Emissary
The Master and His Emissary

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
46min

FAQs about Creative Pep Talk:

How many episodes does Creative Pep Talk have?

The podcast currently has 691 episodes available.

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