The Daily Writer

Today I turn 45 years old. It’s hard to believe.

I remember being a kid in the 1980’s and thinking, “I’ll be 26 years old in the year 2000!” I surpassed that long ago.

So here I am, on my 45th birthday, reflecting on things that I have been learning. Since 45 seems like a halfway point of sorts, I settled on 22 lessons I’m learning, plus another half-lesson for good measure.

In no particular order, here are 22.5 things I’ve been thinking about lately.

To read the full post, visit https://kentsanders.net/45th-birthday.

What does it mean to be “intelligent”? We typically define intelligence in terms of intellectual ability, as evidenced by grades, IQ, or other measurements. But today’s guest helps us understand the theory of multiple intelligences. This is a critical concept for those of us in creative fields because it’s a reminder that people can be smart in a variety of ways.

My guest today is Carrie Naglak, who is an educator with many years of experience thinking about and studying multiple intelligences and related issues. 

In our conversation, we talk about a variety of topics related to multiple intelligences, including how it affects our creativity. This is one of those mind-bending episodes that makes you realize how much you still have to learn!

To read the full show notes, visit http://kentsanders.net/097.

One of the most important skills you can develop is good communication. It doesn’t matter whether you are a writer, painter, dancer, videographer, or any of a hundred other areas of creative work. You will always need to present, create content, and work with customers, readers, or clients.

I’m thrilled today to feature a conversation with my friend Nikomas Perez. He is a teaching pastor at Harvester Christian Church in St. Charles, Missouri. This is my church, so I’m excited to feature him on this episode. Nikomas has a background in student ministry, then transitioned to teaching adults a number of years ago. He is a gifted teacher and communicator, so I thought it would be fun to have a conversation about his process and methods.

To read the full show notes, visit http://kentsanders.net/096.

Have you ever wondered what true creative freedom looks like? People may define “freedom” differently, but for many of us, freedom means being able to do what you want to do, when you want to do it. 

My guest today, Vincent Pugliese, will break down what true freedom means as a creative entrepreneur, and how freelancing can be a big part of that process. Vincent was a professional photojournalist for more than 23 years. He was assigned to photograph four U.S. Presidents and nearly every major sporting event, including multiple Super Bowls, the World Series, The NHL Final, the NCAA Final Four and everything in between. Vincent’s work has been published in most major newspapers, magazines, and online publications throughout the world.

Vincent now coaches and leads small business owners and freelancers towards a life of time, money, and location freedom. You can read his story in his excellent book Freelance to Freedom. He is husband to Elizabeth, who works alongside him in their business, and is a father to their boys.

To read the full show notes, visit http://kentsanders.net/095.

Have you ever noticed that a high percentage of artists and creative types are passive and “too nice”? Maybe it’s because we don’t want to appear aggressive. Maybe it’s because we feel paralyzed by too many options. Maybe it’s because we don’t want to offend anyone.

Whatever the reason, the fact remains that many creatives do not take charge of their destiny. I’m thrilled that my guest today, Ginger Moran, is here to help us step into our creative authority and be more assertive with our calling. This is a fun conversation that you don’t want to miss.

To read the full show notes, visit https://kentsanders.net/094.

When you hear the word “storyteller,” what do you think? Maybe the first image that comes to mind is a group of people sitting around a campfire, with a wise old sage telling an ancient tale. Maybe you think of a novelist, screenwriter, movie director, or someone giving a TED talk.

My guest today is a gifted storyteller, but he’s also a theologian, college professor, writer, and speaker. His name is Shane Wood, and I’m excited to share this conversation where he reveals some of his secrets for storytelling and engaging audiences through writing, speaking, and teaching.

To read the full show notes, visit https://kentsanders.net/093.

Over the years, I’ve heard the statistic that 8 out of 10 people want to write a book. Based on many conversations about writing, it’s probably true. Nearly everybody feels they have a book in them, and many of those would like their book to be a novel.

But how do you get it done? Where do you come up with story ideas? How do you ensure that your novel is structured well? What kind of writing habits do you need? Should you use a publisher, or self-publish?

I’m so thankful that my guest today, the accomplished novelist and writing teacher Amber Royer, is here to help answer those questions and give some much-needed guidance!

To read the full show notes, visit https://kentsanders.net/092.

Many of the episodes of this podcast are more light-hearted thematically. We often talk about writing, the arts, curiosity, and related topics. This episode is a little different because I decided to dive into the topic of diversity.

I hope that doesn’t scare you away. In fact, I hope it does just the opposite because you absolutely do not want to miss the wisdom and insights that my guest, Heather Fleming, shares with us. This is one of the most important conversations I’ve had on the show, and I came away a changed person.

To read the full show notes, visit https://kentsanders.net/091. 

Sometimes we make creativity and personal growth more complicated than it needs to be. Although there are countless systems, courses, books, and other resources to help us reach our creative potential, it all begins with one simple concept: your mindset.

Your mind controls everything else in your life. I’m thrilled that my guest today, Kenny Aronson, is here to help us grow and develop our mindset. But it’s not just any mindset—it’s a da Vinci mindset. 

To read the full show notes, visit https://kentsanders.net/090.

When you think about your creative output, do you ever wonder what is preventing you from producing more? For many of us, the #1 reason we would give consists of the short phrase, “I’m too tired.”

Judging by the popularity of coffee, energy drinks, and all forms of caffeine, we are suffering from an energy crisis in our minds and bodies. My guest today, Julian Hayes, helps shed light on why we are going through this crisis and what we can do about it. 

To read the full show notes, visit https://kentsanders.net/089.