The Con Artist Podcast: The Art of Confidence through the Creative Mind

This week, Blake and Alison talk with special Guest Michael Bluestein. A pianist, keyboardist, singer/songwriter, composer and record producer, he has been a member of the rock band Foreigner since 2008. They get into What allows him to continue creating, gives him drive during the pandemic, his inspirations and what it was like the first time he went out on tour with Foreigner. If you’re an artist, you don’t want to miss all the great things shared by this amazingly talented man.

Today’s Trivia: “Why is the band named Foreigner?”

Play along and get the answer on Patreon

“Sometimes it’s not about creating, sometimes it’s about becoming a student again”

~Michael Bluestein

You Can Follow Michael at:

IG: @bluesywonderland

Check out Live Jazz Sessions  @blackbeaglesound

Check out the music of his duo Tina Blue

Why Corona Music Video

You Can Follow the ConArtist at:

FB: @theconartistpod

IG: @theconartistpod

TikTok: @theconartistpod

Become a member on Patreon: patreon.com/theconartistpodcast

You can follow Blake on IG @blakemciver

You can follow Alison on IG @thealisonrobertson

We are now available on Amazon Music

This week, Blake and Alison get into what it means to work to have a positive mindset in a time full of high stress and anxiety.  It can be as simple as looking outside yourself and helping where possible. Taking a moment to find the positivity in a somewhat dark situation. Allowing your creativity to fully come out during this time. And maybe indulge in an Uncrustable or two.

You can check out FitOn HERE--Free Exercise-Great way to get the body moving while stuck at home.

Today’s Trivia: “Who achieved EGOT status at the Daytime Emmy Awards, this year (2020)?”

Play along and get the answer on Patreon

“The key to being happy is knowing you have the power to choose what to accept and what to let go.”

~Dodinsky

You Can Follow the ConArtist at:

FB: @theconartistpod

IG: @theconartistpod

TikTok: @theconartistpod

Become a member on Patreon: patreon.com/theconartistpodcast

You can follow Blake on IG @blakemciver

You can follow Alison on IG @thealisonrobertson

We are now available on Amazon Music

This year the Holidays are going to look a little different. Alison & Blake get into what it truly means to live in Gratitude.  Covering everything from how to translate gratitude into art, how to combat the Imposter Syndrome asking “Am I worthy?”, how to express kindness through gratitude and so much more. Whatever you celebrate, however you celebrate, try being in that space of gratitude and let us know how it goes.

Alison’s favorite Gratitude App: Happy Tappers

Today’s Trivia: “How many floats were in the very first Macy’s Day parade, in 1924?”

Play along and get the answer on Patreon.

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.”

~Aesop

You Can Follow the ConArtist at:

FB: @theconartistpod

IG: @theconartistpod

TikTok: @theconartistpod

Become a member on Patreon: patreon.com/theconartistpodcast

You can follow Blake on IG @blakemciver

You can follow Alison on IG @thealisonrobertson

We are now available on Amazon Music

This week, Blake and Alison talk with special Guest Jane Borden. As an author and culture journalist, she contributes regularly to the Washington Post, Vanity Fair as well as many other publications.  On this episode of the Con Artist they get into her latest article with Vanity Fair, “What is it About California and Cults?” Talking about how imposter syndrome can affect the mindset when it comes to cult influence and how she finds Stand Up allows her more freedom in her writing.  You don’t want to miss this one.

Today’s Trivia: “Which member of the Manson Family attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford in 1975?”

Play along and get the answer on Patreon

“You find confidence wherever you can get it.”

                                                           ~Jane Borden

You Can Follow Jane at:

IG: @JaneBorden

http://www.janeborden.com/

Check out her comedy show The C-Word- @cwordshow

You Can Follow the ConArtist at:

FB: @theconartistpod

IG: @theconartistpod

TikTok: @theconartistpod

Become a member on Patreon: patreon.com/theconartistpodcast

You can follow Blake on IG @blakemciver

You can follow Alison on IG @thealisonrobertson

We are now available on Amazon Music

**Trigger Warning-The topic of suicide is talked about this week**

This week, Blake and Alison go in depth with anxiety and depression.  They get into the 5 major anxiety disorders and they talk about how it has personally impacted them. Sharing their stories and some family stories around diagnosis and ways they have learned to cope with their own feelings.  Especially now is this uncertain time.

If you need help, do not be afraid to reach out and ask for it.  Here are a few places to get you stared:

Better Help -- Online counseling

Therapy for Black Girls

Inclusive Therapists

Psychology Today Therapist Finder --  Find help right where you are located

Today’s Trivia: “About half of mental disorders begin before the age of____ ?”

Play along and get the answer on Patreon

“Anxiety’s like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it doesn’t get you very far.

~Jodi Picoult

You Can Follow the ConArtist at:

FB: @theconartistpod

IG: @theconartistpod

TikTok: @theconartistpod

Become a member on Patreon: patreon.com/theconartistpodcast

You can follow Blake on IG @blakemciver

You can follow Alison on IG @thealisonrobertson

We are now available on Amazon Music

This week, Blake and Alison dive into the ever controversial subject of Cancel Culture. When is it effective? When is it problematic? And what do you do when you are the one being “canceled”.

Today’s Trivia: “Beyonce made her big screen debut in what movie?”

Play along and get the answer on Patreon

“If we replaced cancel culture with critical thinking, we’d have empathetic conversations instead of emotional reactions. And, by talking, we learn to separate honest mistakes from actual hate”

~The Captain

You Can Follow the ConArtist at:

FB: @theconartistpod

IG: @theconartistpod

TikTok: @theconartistpod

Become a member on Patreon: patreon.com/theconartistpodcast

You can follow Blake on IG @blakemciver

You can follow Alison on IG @thealisonrobertson

We are now available on Amazon Music

This week, Blake and Alison talk with special Guest Alisha Gaddis. This multi-passionate performer knows what it means to wear many hats. Writer/Actor/Producer and Member of the Grammy/Emmy winning band, The Lucky Band she brings her unique optimism and wisdom to the show this week. They jump into what it means to have a multi-passionate life, how it can affect confidence and how to not lose one's sense of “speciality” while going from genre to genre.

Today’s Trivia: “What was the first musical to win the Pulitzer Prize for drama?”

Play along and get the answer on Patreon

“Stay open to the YES!”

~Alisha Gaddis

You Can Follow Alisha at:

IG: @imalishagaddis

http://alishagaddis.com/

You can order a copy of her Book- Mama’s Milk & Me

You Can Follow the ConArtist at:

FB: @theconartistpod

IG: @theconartistpod

TikTok: @theconartistpod

Become a member on Patreon: patreon.com/theconartistpodcast

You can follow Blake on IG @blakemciver

You can follow Alison on IG @thealisonrobertson

We are now available on Amazon Music

This week, Blake and Alison talk with special Guest AMAA Award nominated actor most recently known for his starring role as Adult Simba in Beyonce’s Disney Film, ‘Black Is King’, dancer and change maker, Nyaniso Dzedze. They get into what it’s like to truly follow your purpose. What it means to find your emotional health. And how great it feels to be exactly where you’re meant to be.

Today’s Trivia: “In the original 1994 animated Disney’s The Lion King, what was the last spoken line of dialogue?”

Play along and get the answer on Patreon

“Acting is like Breathing and Breathing is Living.”

~Nyaniso Dzedze

You Can Follow Nyaniso at:

IG: @nyanisodzedze

https://www.nyanisodzedze.com/

And you can connect to his Wellness Practice at:

https://www.velasouls.com/

You can check out their program- The Vow

;) Sunstone Winery

You Can Follow the ConArtist at:

FB: @theconartistpod

IG: @theconartistpod

TikTok: @theconartistpod

Become a member on Patreon: patreon.com/theconartistpodcast

You can follow Blake on IG @blakemciver

You can follow Alison on IG @thealisonrobertson

We are now available on Amazon Music

With so much happening in the world right now, Alison & Blake wanted to share about some of the issues that are affecting them daily and how to help everyone cope.  Sometimes it’s just nice to hear someone say “It’s okay to not be okay right now.” This is a time unlike any other and we are all learning how to navigate through this new space.

You can check out Zakiya’s Pass the Mic Live Videos with Kelli O’Hara here

Black Owned Businesses you can start supporting right now:

And here is a List of 7 more Businesses

You can follow Alison’s Mom’s Mask business on IG @mommoms_masks

Today’s Trivia: “Which President served the shortest tenure in  U.S. Presidential history, dying from a cold?”

Play along and get the answer on Patreon

“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.”

~Angela Y. Davis

You Can Follow the ConArtist at:

FB: @theconartistpod

IG: @theconartistpod

TikTok: @theconartistpod

Become a member on Patreon: patreon.com/theconartistpodcast

You can follow Blake on IG @blakemciver

You can follow Alison on IG @thealisonrobertson

We are now available on Amazon Music

Welcome to the ConArtist Podcast

Hello New Listener!!  So excited you’ve joined us on this journey.  In the premiere episode, Alison & Blake get into why they wanted to start the podcast, how they met and what motivates them in times of uncertainty.  They also get into the Imposter Syndrome and the Archetypes that it can be broken down into.

Today’s Trivia: “What year was the first Air Jordan tennis shoe released?”

Play along and get the answer on Patreon

~Steven Furtick

You Can Follow the ConArtist at:

FB: @theconartistpod

IG: @theconartistpod

TikTok: @theconartistpod

Become a member on Patreon: patreon.com/theconartistpodcast

You can follow Blake on IG @blakemciver

You can follow Alison on IG @thealisonrobertson

We are now available on Amazon Music