In this emotionally rich and deeply honest episode of The UnBound Creative, Valerie and Mak explore one of the most universal experiences in creative life: failure. They dive into why fear of failure keeps so many creatives stuck, and offer mindset shifts, emotional tools, and gentle practices for moving through it.

They discuss:

• How our brains are wired to avoid risk and how that shows up creatively
• The real meaning behind failure and why it’s rarely final
• What to do when success brings new fears
• Why emotional processing like crying, journaling, and feeling deeply is part of a creative life
• Practical ways to support yourself in moments of failure, including creating a “failure plan” and using music as a tool
• The beauty of becoming through failure, and how it shapes who you are

This episode is a permission slip to begin. Whether you’ve failed and are struggling to get back up, or you’ve been too afraid to start at all, this conversation will help you reframe the fear and start walking forward—one imperfect, courageous step at a time.

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@valeriemckeehan & @thatmakguy (that’s Mak with a K!)

Keep creating bravely. We’re so glad you’re here.