In this solo episode of The Creative Hustle, Anika explores the power of fully platonic connection: intense eye contact, deep conversations, and the kind of presence that makes ideas surface out of nowhere.

Through a personal storytime and honest reflection, this episode breaks down why some conversations feel more electric than collaborations, how being truly listened to can unlock creative clarity, and why attention is what most creatives are actually craving.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever left a conversation feeling mentally stretched, creatively awake, and quietly changed, without knowing exactly why.

Stay tuned for new episodes every week and for behind the scene updates and other cool stuff, follow Anika on Instagram!

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In this episode, I sit down with the high school senior, impeccable videographer, and founder of a video marketing agency, Vedant Tiwari whose campaigns have reached 3.7+ million views and helped 17+ nonprofits, youth-led organizations, and businesses grow through intentional storytelling.

We talk about the moment creativity turns into leverage, why virality means nothing without strategy, and what it actually looks like to run an agency while still balancing school, identity, and pressure.

Vedant breaks down how he blends art with business, why creatives need to understand finance, and how to build ideas that last longer than a trend cycle.

In this episode, I sit down with Riyan Parekh, a high school senior juggling life as a philosophy club president, Boy Scout, tennis player, and full-time thinker, to talk about what it actually means to live philosophically at 18.

Riyan shares the philosophical motion he lives by, how leading discussions has reshaped the way he listens in his personal life, and what it’s like balancing ambition, reflection, and responsibility in a world that often rewards self-obsession over self-awareness.

We unpack the tension between truth and reality, how to express emotions—Platonic or romantic—without losing yourself, and why second chances matter when navigating identity, ego, and growth.

We also talk about what advice he’d give his future self five years from now, and Riyan leaves listeners with a final message that feels grounding, honest, and deeply relevant for anyone trying to figure themselves out while growing up in public.

In this episode, I sit down with Colin Wilkes, the costume designer behind the film adaptation of Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation, starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth.

We talk about what it means to feel too much, and how that emotional intensity shows up through clothing, color, and character dynamics.

Colin breaks down how wardrobe helps tell a love story, shapes who characters are before they even speak, and quietly mirrors the tension, tenderness, and timing that make this story hit so hard.

If you love storytelling details, emotional nuance, and the invisible art behind your favorite films, this one’s for you.

In this episode, I sit down with Greg Kotis, the Tony Award–winning writer behind Urinetown the Musical, to unpack the power of satire, musical theatre as social commentary, and why the strangest ideas are often the most truthful.

We talk about the creation and legacy of Urinetown, how Mr Kotis approaches storytelling that challenges audiences without alienating them, and what he’s been working on since.

We also dive into creative chemistr, how to find your creative soulmate, why collaboration matters more than perfection, and what it means to keep making bold, original work in an industry that often rewards what’s familiar.

This conversation is for writers, theatre kids, creatives, and anyone obsessed with stories that take risks and refuse to play it safe.

In this episode, I sit down with singer-songwriter Georgia Parker to talk about her upcoming album, the duality that exists within her sound, and what it means to create without forcing yourself into a box.

We get into the gray areas of music, the push and pull between vulnerability and confidence, softness and strength, who you were and who you’re becoming.

This conversation is part creative diary, part philosophy, part real-time reflection on being an artist in a world that constantly asks you to explain yourself.

Georgia shares what’s shaping her next era, how she thinks about music beyond genre, and why embracing contradiction might be the most honest form of art.

If you’re in your “figuring it out” era, making things you can’t fully explain yet, this one’s for you.

In this episode, YA author, Andy Darcy Theo joins me to unpack why the genre hits so deeply.

We talk about the tropes readers can’t get enough of (and why they work every time), what goes into crafting emotionally addictive fantasy worlds, and how writers know when a story is actually working.

Andy also opens up about the journey from loving romantasy as a reader to creating it as an author, including the quiet, unexpected moments that make you stop and think, wait… I really made it.

We get real about creative doubt, trusting your instincts, and navigating the pressure that comes with having people fall in love with characters you once kept to yourself.

Whether you’re a romantasy reader, an aspiring writer, or someone chasing a creative dream that still feels far away, this episode is a reminder that passion, persistence, and a little bit of magic can take you further than you ever imagined.

In this episode, I’m joined by YA romance author, Sujin Witherspoon to talk about writing emotionally honest love stories, creating chemistry that actually works, and why teenage feelings are never “too much.”

We also discuss flawed characters, quiet vulnerability, hot rodent men, and the scenes authors fight editors over.

Equal parts thoughtful and unhinged, this conversation is for readers who annotate books, fall for fictional people a little too hard, and still think about their favorite YA romance years later. 🎙️📚🐀

In this episode, I’m talking about the fear of wanting too much:

why emotional investment gets labeled as neediness, how creatives learn to downplay their passion, and what it costs us to shrink our desires just to feel safe.

We unpack the difference between healing and self-protection, softness and self-abandonment, and what it really means to want deeply in a world that rewards detachment.

If you’ve ever edited your enthusiasm, lowered your expectations, or stopped wanting something out loud, this one’s for you.

In this episode, I’m sharing the five most important lessons I learned as a creator in 2025.

From realizing follower count doesn’t equal quality content, to embracing change, avoiding creative boxes, redefining success, and making space for rest, this episode is a thoughtful recap of a year that changed how I create and why I do it.