Creator Alchemy

Marianne Vander Dussen is an artist, educator, and YouTuber who creates calm, approachable painting tutorials and teaches thousands of students through her online acrylic courses. Her work focuses on making the creative process feel clear, enjoyable, and accessible for artists at any level. In this episode, we dive deep into her journey and how anyone can unlock their inner artist.

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CONNECT WITH MARIANNE:

1. https://www.youtube.com/@mariannevanderdussen
2. https://mariannevanderdussen.com/
3. https://courses.mariannevanderdussen.com/
4. https://www.instagram.com/mariannevanderdussen/
5. https://www.tiktok.com/@mariannevanderdussen
6. https://www.facebook.com/artbymariannevanderdussen/

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SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:

Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/

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JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 The Problem with Motivation and Creativity

16:45 Balancing Creative Time and Business Building

21:25 Marianne’s Creator Journey

27:38 Imposter Syndrome and Creativity

49:05 Navigating Vulnerability as an Artist

01:03:02 The Psychology Behind Why We’re Afraid to Be Judged

01:11:00 Embracing Authenticity

01:26:44 The Power of Resilience and Adaptability

01:32:48 AI and the Future of Art

01:54:08 When is Your Art Finished?

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SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsyd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/

Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

Paul Millerd is the author of The Pathless Path, a book he self-published that's sold over 70,000 copies worldwide over the last four years. His work has helped countless people all over the world leave the "Default Path" and blaze their own trail to build the life they want and do work they love. Paul has been an inspiration to me for years--as a writer, entrepreneur, and all-around incredible and generous human being--so I'm excited to share our conversation with you today where we dive into what it really means to pursue your own path. Enjoy.

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CONNECT WITH PAUL MILLERD:

1. https://pmillerd.com/
2. https://pathlesspath.com/

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SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:

Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/

—

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 The Power of Self-Publishing

07:13 Navigating the Identity of Being A Writer

17:38 Embracing Authenticity

21:09 Optimizing for Uncertainty

40:20 Embracing the Pathless Path

46:50 Chasing Success and Rejecting Status

55:42 Finding a Niche vs a Mode

58:35 The Intrinsic Value of Writing Books

01:05:28 The Insane Realities of the Book Publishing Industry

01:20:07 The Future of Books

01:28:27 The Psychology of Taking Risks

01:35:05 Guerilla Marketing and Gifting Books

01:47:18 The Lasting Impact of the Pathless Path

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SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsyd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/

Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

If you're ambitious but stuck in the gap between knowing and doing, this episode is for you. I break down the nine psychological barriers that keep capable people from taking action—from waiting for permission that will never come to letting impostor syndrome run your life. These aren't tactical problems, they're deeply rooted patterns that affect everyone. Here's what you need to understand about what's actually holding you back.

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SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:

Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/

—

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Intro

00:37 You're Waiting for Permission

02:21 You Have Imposter Syndrome

05:06 You're Focusing On What "They" Think

07:32 You've Lost Perspective

11:11 You're Waiting Until You Feel Ready

13:19 You Keep Getting In Your Own Way

16:31 You Allow Toxic Personal Narratives to Persist

21:08 You Avoid Yourself

23:45 You're Trying to Be a Lone Wolf

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SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsyd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/

Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

Tim Stoddart is one of my favorite entrepreneurs and writers. He's built multiple 7 and 8 figure businesses with SEO, content marketing, advertising, and great writing.

A few years ago he went full circle and bought Copyblogger, a website and platform that first taught him how to build an online business when he first started.

In this episode, we dive into the "inner game" of what it actually takes to build multiple successful companies, the psychological toll it can take that most entrepreneurs never talk about, and Tim shares business advice everyone ignores that could actually be the key to building a successful business.

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CONNECT WITH TIM STODDART:

• https://copyblogger.com/
• https://www.timstodz.com/
• https://www.youtube.com/@timstodz

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SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:

Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/

—

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Why Creators Are Broke

09:29 How Content Attracts Serendipity

19:04 Building Business Relationships Through Authenticity

29:09 Sobriety, Entrepreneurship, and Obsession

47:10 Self-Care, Stillness, and Sustainability

54:29 Business Advice Everyone Ignores

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SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsyd

Substack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/

Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

WANT TO WORK TOGETHER?

Apply for PUBLIC Coaching: https://tally.so/r/EkkQgq

Apply for PRIVATE Coaching: https://tally.so/r/mVqOlv

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This is a public coaching session where I help Dan Bennett, an entrepreneur who's built a six-figure company, navigate the constant uncertainty and overwhelm of growing his business.

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ABOUT DAN BENNETT:

Dan is the founder of Hot Sauce Video, a company dedicated to helping remarkable people look and sound great on camera.

Connect with Dan: http://danhaslinks.com/

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SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:

Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/

—

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.

—

SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsyd

Substack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/

Twitter: https://x.com/CoreyWilksPsyD

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/

Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

In this episode, I sit down with Tintin Smith, former Head of YouTube for Ali Abdaal where he helped Ali's channel generate millions in subscriber count and revenue before launching his own business helping educational YouTubers turn their channels into sustainable six-figure businesses. We explore the psychological journey of entrepreneurship including navigating imposter syndrome, pricing psychology, the insecurity of self-promotion, and other psychological aspects of running a successful online business every creator faces.

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CONNECT WITH TINTIN SMITH:

• 100K YouTuber: https://100kyt.com/
• 100K Roadmap: https://100kroadmap.co/
• Tintin's Business Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theyoutubetin
• Tintin's Second Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@tintinsmith

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SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:

Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/

—

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 From Working with Ali Abdaal to Building His Own Business

19:41 Navigating Imposter Syndrome and Charging Premium Prices

34:06 Pricing Psychology and Charging Your Worth

50:34 Doing Aligned Work and Avoiding Golden Handcuffs

01:01:30 Dealing with the Insecurity of Self-Promotion

01:19:17 Final Thoughts

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SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsyd

Substack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/

Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

In this episode, I sit down with one of my favorite no-bullshit entrepreneurs, Jessica Lackey, to talk about what it actually takes to build a successful online business. We dive deep into why most entrepreneurs are gambling with their careers and how to build a sustainable, meaningful business based on conviction and curiosity.

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ABOUT JESSICA LACKEY:

Jessica Lackey is the founder of Deeper Foundations, a consulting and training firm that helps expertise-based business owners grow and scale sustainable companies rooted in stronger business foundations. She brings a unique blend of corporate expertise and soulful business building, drawing on an MBA from Harvard Business School, a coaching certification from iPEC, and experience at McKinsey & Company and Nike, Inc. Jessica has supported over 200 entrepreneurs through her programs, blending systems thinking, operational rigor, and deep values alignment.

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CONNECT WITH JESSICA LACKEY:

• Website: https://www.deeperfoundations.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-lackey/
• Book: https://www.deeperfoundations.com/casino

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SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:

Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/

—

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.

—

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Why Building an Online Business Feels Like a Gamble

08:10 When the Math Doesn’t Math

13:37 Understanding Your Business Model

39:04 Common Pitfalls of Early Entrepreneurship

51:10 Languaging, Frameworks, and Resonating with the Right Audience

56:33 The Power of Curiosity and Conviction

01:16:22 Leaving the Casino of Business

01:25:47 Creating an Impact with Your Work

01:36:14 Dealing with the Fear of Ridicule

01:40:45 The Harsh Truth About Building a Business

01:59:35 Advice on Building a Successful Business

02:05:09 Final Thoughts

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SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsyd

Substack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/

Twitter: https://x.com/CoreyWilksPsyD

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/

Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

The title says it all.

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SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:

Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/

—

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.

—

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Intro

01:24 Stop Waiting for Permission

04:08 You’ll Never Find Time

05:52 The Path of Least Resistance is Often the Most Crowded

07:42 You Can Sell Without Being Salesy

11:25 If You’re Not Making Money, You Don’t Have a Business

13:23 A Hobby Work Ethic Won’t Drive Business Results

16:43 Hustle Culture is Just Virtue Signaling for Entrepreneurs

20:09 There’s Prestige in Solving Hard Problems, Not in Making Problems Hard to Solve

21:43 Ideas Don’t Matter

23:27 Listen to People Who Open Their Wallets, Not Their Mouths

27:02 Branding is a Waste of Time

29:20 People Don’t Follow You for Your Content

33:05 Don’t Try to Be a One-Person Media Empire

35:48 Be Less Impressed, More Involved

38:20 No One Wants You to Pick Their Brain

41:26 Who You Can Text Matters More Than Your Follower Count

42:58 Don’t Romanticize Being a Lone Wolf. Lone Wolves Die in the Wild

45:01 Focus on Building a Portfolio of Assets

47:07 Don’t Live on Rented Land

52:31 If You’re Stuck at a Fork in the Road, It Means Both Paths Are Viable

55:20 Metrics Matter Until They Mislead You

57:13 Audience Capture Can Cause You to Lose Yourself

01:01:43 Forget About Work-Life Balance. It’s a Lie

01:04:55 If You Don’t Respect Your Value, No One Else Will

01:07:38 Confidence is Overrated

01:10:08 No One Knows What They’re Doing

01:12:32 It Feels Hard Because It Is Hard

01:15:56 No One Gives a Shit About You

01:17:58 Stories Move People, Not Statistics

01:20:44 Know When to Widen Your Vision and When to Put On Blinders

01:25:58 Don’t Live Online. Live Offline and Share Online

01:28:23 Pick What You Want to Be Great At, Then Accept Being Mediocre At Everything Else

01:30:33 Forget Trends. Focus on Timeless

01:33:40 Find the Torture You're Comfortable With

01:36:49 It’s Going to Feel Like Drinking from a Fire Hydrant for a Long Time

01:39:16 Focus on Resonance Over Reach

01:42:03 Embrace Your Dark Horse Era

01:44:59 Most Productivity Issues Aren’t Due to a Lack of Discipline, But an Abundance of Fear

01:47:17 Final Thoughts

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SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsyd

Substack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/

Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

Are you secretly afraid of success? In this solo episode, I dive into why fear of success is so common, even when you deeply want to achieve success. You'll also learn an exercise to help you navigate fear of success.

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SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:

Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/

—

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.

—

SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsyd

Substack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/

Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

Lawrence Yeo is the founder of More to That and author of The Inner Compass. He's legitimately one of my favorite modern writers and has been instrumental in helping me improve my ability to think clearer, tell better stories, and live more meaningfully. In today's episode, I sit down with Lawrence to dive deep into the psychological barriers that keep creators from doing their best work. We explore how to transform imposter syndrome into creative fuel, why authenticity beats algorithmic optimization, and how philosophical frameworks provide more practical guidance than traditional self-help for navigating creative uncertainty, building sustainable businesses, and developing unshakeable conviction in your ideas.

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CONNECT WITH LAWRENCE YEO:

Website: https://moretothat.com/

Lawrence's book, The Inner Compass: https://compass.moretothat.com/

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SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:

Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/

—

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.

Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.

—

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• Imposter syndrome signals you're entering new territory and growing, rather than being a character flaw to eliminate.
• Original ideas don't exist - your unique value comes from filtering universal concepts through your personal experience and worldview.
• Tactical vulnerability means sharing personal struggles specifically to serve your audience, not just to process your own emotions.
• Writing like you naturally speak creates more authentic connection than trying to hit artificial reading level targets.
• Perfectionism paralyzes creators because achieving it would make creating the next piece even more daunting.
• Stories move people more than statistics - personal anecdotes create lasting impact where data fails.
• Mastery (refining intuition) creates more sustainable success than status-chasing (collecting attention).
• The people you attract reflect the ideas you share - shallow content brings shallow thinkers.
• External validation becomes addictive when you're in periods of self-doubt, but focusing on craft builds genuine confidence and conviction.
• Monetizing creativity requires attracting people whose values align with yours, not just anyone willing to pay.
• Trusting yourself is learnable through repeatedly doing work for its own sake without external pressure.

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 The Genesis of More to That

05:16 How Lawrence Deals with Imposter Syndrome

09:46 The Art of Remixing Ideas

14:42 The Power of Authenticity and Vulnerability in The Creative Act

25:38 Common Writing Advice to Avoid

33:15 Why Perfection is Overrated

40:39 Knowledge vs Wisdom in the Age of AI

48:25 Krishnamurti, Philosophy, and Navigating Existence

01:17:08 Why We Wait for Permission to Hit Publish

01:25:52 The Pursuit of Mastery and Craftsmanship

01:32:25 Staying True to Yourself and Resisting Misaligned Incentives

01:49:49 The Inner Compass

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SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsyd

Substack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/

Twitter: https://x.com/CoreyWilksPsyD

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/coreywilkspsyd.bsky.social

Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.