Dead Frog in the Driveway

A listener’s question prompts Joni, Drew and Pat to explore the various enemies of creativity. From perfectionism to context-shifting to procrastination AND people who say, “hold that thought”. Plus, why constraints might be your best creative friend, and why crawling before walking or running is a completely legitimate strategy. 

We find out what really happened, discuss giving and receiving feedback, and how it fuels the creative process.

The revision process. It's a thing of beauty, but also agony, if we don't know how to approach this multifaceted task in a palatable and productive manner. In this episode our hosts offer insights into how to overcome the overwhelm of revision, draft by draft by draft...

In this episode, Joni, Drew and Pat dive into curiosity as the engine behind creativity. They explore how asking “what if?” and “I wonder why?” can deepen character, spark new ideas, and help us move through creative blocks — while also looking at how fear, perfectionism, and the need for certainty can shut curiosity down. Their discussion includes personal experience and practical ways to stay open, curious, and creatively alive.

Joni chats one-to-one with comic storyteller extraordinaire Cindy Pierce, whose solo shows find the humor and humanity in life's rawest (and sometimes raunchiest) circumstances. Known for her fearless solo performances, Cindy shares her thoughts on how we all can practice and grow our creative courage on paper, on the stage, and in life. https://cindypierce.squarespace.com/

Pat, Joni and Drew shine a light on less visible aspects of creativity and appreciate how central they are to the process! 

Of all the insecurities writers confront, this is one of the most vexing. But is it true? Or are these writers looking at plotting the wrong way? In this episode, Pat, Drew, and Joni offer insights into how plotting can (and should) be a process of discovery; how your characters can help you figure out what happens next; and how there comes a time when it is critical you impose structure on your story...but maybe that time is later than you think.

What happens when fear hijacks our creative flow? In this episode, Joni, Drew, and Pat unpack how our nervous system shapes creativity—from openness to shutdown—and how perfectionism can be a body’s way of staying safe. With insights from Polyvagal Theory and simple tools like breath, movement, and community, they explore how awareness can turn fear from a block into fuel for making art.

In this episode, Pat goes one-on-one with Ed Romanoff, an award-winning singer-songwriter, corporate storyteller, and the founder of PineRock, a global brand communications company based in New York City. Listen in as they discuss creative timetables, the risks creators face, and how sometimes our stories tell us things we didn’t even know about ourselves. https://www.edromanoff.com/

Rumor has it, the older we get, the less creative we become? In this episode, Pat, Drew, and Joni challenge this cultural narrative with plenty of stories and experiences that prove otherwise. They also offer insights into how best to tap into your creativity, whether you’re going on nine or ninety.