This isn’t a pep talk—it’s a remembering.

In this episode, Ruby Rose Fox invites you into a radical reframe of creativity, performance, and the nervous system. What if your art isn’t something you chase, but something that emerges when you stop running? What if your nervous system isn’t a barrier to your brilliance—but the very stage it’s meant to unfold on?

Through poetic storytelling, deep nervous system wisdom, and the concept of “Superplay,” Ruby challenges the myth of the tortured artist, dismantles the delusion of external validation, and offers a path back to your true source of power: presence.

Whether you're an artist on the edge of burnout, a performer seeking authenticity, or a human longing to come home to your body—this episode is for you.

You are not broken. You are beautifully made. The Creative Force wears your name.

Support the show

In this episode of Muscle Music, Ruby Rose Fox sits down with Habit Disruption Founder Kevin Munhall, a performer and expert in breathwork, stress resilience, and nervous system regulation. Together, they dive into the hidden costs of high-performance artistry, discussing how unchecked stress, injury, and overexertion can lead to burnout and long-term health challenges. Kevin shares his journey from Broadway to nervous system coaching, revealing how techniques like breathwork, heart rate variability training, and stress adaptation can help artists sustain peak performance. The conversation also explores the intersection of physical, mental, and emotional resilience, the overlooked role of sleep, and the need for a new paradigm in performing arts training—one that integrates nervous system awareness as a foundational skill. Ruby and Kevin challenge conventional ideas about stage fright, activation, and artistic sustainability, offering insights on how performers can embrace their full nervous system spectrum for a more empowered and sustainable creative life.

Support the show

🎙️ Muscle Music Presents: A Nervous System Revolution for Artists 🎶

In this episode, Ruby Rose Fox dives deep into one of the most common struggles for artists—rumination—and introduces a transformative tool called "It’s Totally Possible."

Designed for performers battling stage fright, anxiety, perfectionism, and mental chatter, this episode unpacks how the autonomic nervous system drives our fears and how we can reclaim control. Ruby explores the concept of affective realism, the art of silencing mental noise, and the power of matching nervous system tools to the right state.

Learn practical techniques to prepare for auditions, performances, and those high-pressure moments when your mind won’t stop spiraling. Whether it’s calming your nerves with “Wild Style” affirmations or grounding yourself with “Nervous System Style” strategies, Ruby offers actionable insights to help you step into your role as a nervous system leader.

This episode is packed with wisdom from Superplay, personal anecdotes, and even insights inspired by Trevor Moawad’s It Takes What It Takes.

If you’ve ever struggled with overthinking or wanted to approach your art with more ease and joy, this is the episode for you.

💡 Try the "It’s Totally Possible" tool, share your experiences, and let’s start 2025 with grounded confidence.

📚 Find more tools in the Leadership Library or through Ruby’s app and book, Superplay.

💌 Connect with Ruby at MuscleMusic to share your journey.

Support the show

Podcast Description for Episode #6:

In this episode, host Ruby Rose Fox takes us on a deeply personal journey, recounting a pivotal moment in her life as an artist and performer—the story of the avocado. This raw and introspective narrative introduces two key concepts foundational to artistic and personal growth: Nervous System Supremacy and Co-regulation. Ruby challenges the ways we’ve been taught to suppress, ignore, or "fix" our nervous systems, exploring how cultural frameworks, self-help ideologies, and even art itself can perpetuate harmful patterns.

Through her lens as an artist who has navigated preservation mode, life fright, and the seductive pull of Superplay, Ruby unpacks the myths surrounding dysregulation, emotional pain, and the pursuit of connection. She reflects on how hyper-focusing on art as a form of escape ultimately led to isolation and collapse—and how re-learning to value the full spectrum of the nervous system became her path to healing.

With honesty, humor, and a touch of Leonard Cohen, this episode is a compassionate invitation for artists to embrace their humanity, dismantle shame, and build stronger foundations for both their craft and their lives. Whether you're seeking a better understanding of your nervous system or simply looking for inspiration, this conversation is a reminder: go to the people you love first. Then, go to art.

Support the show

Podcast Summary: Chapter One: Taming of the “Woo!!”: Mastering Energy and Excitement

In this episode, Ruby dives into the complexities of mastering energy and excitement as an artist. She begins by acknowledging the artist’s natural inclination towards extremes, exploration, and pushing limits. Celebrating the exhilarating moments of success after an audition, Ruby explores the concept of ecstasy, rooted in the Greek word "ekstasis," which means "standing outside oneself." Artists experience this state as a vital part of their creative process, often losing themselves in the energetic flow of creativity.

Ruby introduces the idea of "body budget leaks" (BBLs), where excessive metabolic energy expenditure can lead to a depletion of one’s physical and mental resources. Drawing from Lisa Feldman Barrett’s research on "body budgets," Ruby debunks the myth of unlimited energy, emphasizing the importance of managing one’s daily energy reserves wisely to avoid burnout and fatigue.

She uses vivid metaphors such as an oversized pool toy taking up the entire pool, symbolizing how unchecked excitement can overwhelm and drain one’s energy. Ruby explains how our nervous systems can be thrown off balance by both negative and positive experiences, highlighting the need for tools to manage these fluctuations effectively.

Throughout the episode, Ruby encourages artists to distinguish between healthy excitement and detrimental energy leaks, often stemming from trauma or unresolved emotional issues. She stresses the importance of regulating the nervous system to maintain equilibrium, essential for sustainable growth and well-being in artistic pursuits.

Ruby discusses the profound impact of somatic memory on artistic expression, describing how unresolved trauma can manifest in dysregulated behaviors and extreme emotional responses. She shares personal insights and tools for artists to recognize and address these patterns, fostering a healthier relationship with their creative energy.

In conclusion, Ruby invites listeners to embrace a practice of neutrality with big life moments, advocating for a balanced approach that supports long-term artistic fulfillment and well-being. She offers practical exercises like the Capacity Rocketship tool to help artists manage excitement and maintain equilibrium in their creative journeys.

Join Ruby as she navigates the intricate balance between artistic passion and personal well-being, providing invaluable insights and tools for harnessing creative energy effectively. Discover how mastering energy and excitement can transform your artistic practice and enhance your overall life experience.

Support the show

🎙️ Episode Summary: Unveiling the Myth of the Starving Artist and the Power of the Nervous System

In this groundbreaking episode, we dive into the deep-rooted myth of the starving artist and explore its connection to the history of mental health. We'll unravel the mysteries of why the nervous system is so foreign to us and discuss whether nervous system work in the arts is a new frontier or if it has been intentionally suppressed.

Have you ever wondered why we haven't fully embraced our nervous systems despite artists being so connected to their bodies? Or why the education system seems to stifle our innate creativity? Picasso famously said, "All children are born artists," and a NASA study reveals that 98% of 5-year-olds are considered geniuses in imagination, a percentage that drastically drops as they grow older. We'll examine how our education system impacts our ability to imagine, stay curious, and be creative, causing profound damage.

This episode isn't just about uncovering problems; it's about sparking a revolution. We aim to redefine reality for artists, empowering them to thrive financially, change the world, and create without being shackled by the outdated stereotype of the starving artist. We'll delve into how genius and creativity have historically been linked to depression and mental illness, creating a culture of fear that hinders artists from embracing their full potential.

We'll tackle the concept of "freeze" response, an often misunderstood nervous system state, and its implications for artists. PTSD, officially recognized only in the 1980s, sheds light on why nervous system education is still lacking in many art schools. Through historical insights, we'll see how nervous system knowledge dates back centuries, yet remains underutilized in modern artistic training.

The episode will also address the dangerous stereotypes that have perpetuated the image of the melancholic genius, examining how this belief system has harmed countless artists. We'll explore the impact of cultural codes, advertising, and societal expectations on the perception of artists and their work.

By blending the arts and sciences, we aim to empower artists with knowledge about their nervous systems, debunking the myth that creativity and mental illness are inextricably linked. We'll highlight how understanding the nervous system can enhance performance, promote well-being, and foster a healthier, more empowered artistic community.

Join us as we embark on a journey to dismantle toxic paradigms, embrace a new era of artistic enlightenment, and revolutionize the way we understand creativity, mental health, and the human nervous system. The revolution begins now, and it starts with you.

Support the show

Join us in a profound exploration on "Muscle Music" where we delve deep into the intricacies of artists' nervous systems. This episode, brought to you by Ruby Rose Fox, features an illuminating conversation with Antonio Ocampo-Guzman, an esteemed actor, director, and professor at Northeastern University. Discover how artists navigate emotional landscapes from stage fright to self-expression through innovative somatic experiences.

Antonio recounts his transformative journey from a conservative upbringing in Colombia to becoming a designated Linklater master voice teacher and a voice for actors . The discussion ventures into the vital intersection of art and science, emphasizing the necessity of integrating body and mind to foster safe artistic practices post-COVID.

 Whether you're an artist struggling to connect body and mind, a teacher seeking compassionate pedagogy, or simply a lover of profound human stories, this episode promises to enlighten, inspire, and empower.

Support the show

Join Ruby Rose Fox on a transformative journey through the intricacies of the nervous system in the latest episode of Muscle Music, a podcast dedicated to revolutionizing the way artists interact with their own biology. This episode delves into the common yet often misunderstood phenomenon known as the "safe and social bypass," a concept that extends the foundational principles of polyvagal theory through the innovative lens of the Fox method. Ruby shares her personal experiences and the theoretical underpinnings that illuminate how artists can become trapped in a cycle of performance addiction due to early developmental adaptations. This discussion is not just an exploration of the challenges faced by artists struggling with stage fright, depression, anxiety, and perfectionism but also offers a beacon of hope for healing and growth. Through a blend of personal narrative, theoretical exploration, and practical advice, Ruby provides a roadmap for artists to navigate their way towards a more balanced and fulfilling engagement with their art and their lives. Whether you're an artist feeling stuck in your creative endeavors or anyone interested in the profound connections between our nervous systems and our behaviors, this episode offers valuable insights into the power of understanding and nurturing our biological foundations.

Support the show

"A Nervous System Revolution," hosted by Ruby Rose Fox, is a groundbreaking podcast that addresses a critical aspect often overlooked in the arts: the artist's nervous system. Targeting artists grappling with challenges like stage fright, depression, anxiety, and perfectionism, it's an eye-opener in an industry where 73% of musicians report mental health issues. This podcast challenges the romanticized notion of the 'tortured artist,' proving that creative excellence doesn't require mental distress.

Ruby introduces listeners to innovative concepts like the polyvagal theory, emphasizing the importance of understanding our nervous system, not as a complex scientific puzzle, but as a fundamental tool for artistic expression. She critiques traditional theater and music programs, advocating for a trauma-informed approach in arts education.

Sharing personal anecdotes, including her journey and her grandmother's influence, Ruby establishes a deep connection with her audience. Her stories illustrate the consequences of neglecting nervous system health, highlighting her transformation upon embracing polyvagal theory.

The podcast aims to empower artists through nervous system literacy, offering insights into neuroception and the importance of language in articulating our experiences. Ruby's Muscle Music is more than a podcast; it's a certification program and a 'nervous system gym,' providing resources for artists to regulate their nervous systems.

Join Ruby in this revolutionary movement to redefine artistic training and performance, prioritizing nervous system health as the foundation of creativity and well-being in the arts.

Support the show