What does it really mean to be free as an artist?

In this conversation, Mak and Valerie explore the tension between mastery and play, the discipline that builds skill, and the surrender that opens the soul. They unpack how both are essential, how each feeds the other, and why real creative freedom is not about choosing one side but learning to hold both.

It is an honest and reflective look at what happens when you stop trying to get it right and start listening to what your creativity and your life actually need.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Magic Makers

Thanks for listening to The UnBound Creative!

If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with a friend or leave us a review, it helps more creatives discover the show.

💌 Connect with us on Instagram:
@valeriemckeehan & @thatmakguy (that’s Mak with a K!)

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

You’ve probably said this phrase hundreds of times. You’ve definitely heard it. It’s woven into how we talk about work, success, and creativity... but what if it’s been quietly stealing your joy all along?

In this episode, Mak and Valerie pull back the curtain on a cultural belief that keeps so many creatives stuck in struggle. They share why this mindset feels noble on the surface but actually creates shame, burnout, and self-doubt… and what to replace it with instead.

If you’ve ever wondered why you feel guilty for doing what comes easily, or why joy feels “less valuable” than struggle, this conversation will feel like freedom.

It’s time to delete this phrase from your vocabulary and reclaim the delight you were meant to create from.

Thanks for listening to The UnBound Creative!

If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with a friend or leave us a review, it helps more creatives discover the show.

💌 Connect with us on Instagram:
@valeriemckeehan & @thatmakguy (that’s Mak with a K!)

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

You’ve likely believed this lie without even realizing it, and it’s keeping you stuck. In this episode, we’re exposing the narrative that’s been holding creatives back for generations and replacing it with something far more powerful.

Thanks for listening to The UnBound Creative!

If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with a friend or leave us a review, it helps more creatives discover the show.

💌 Connect with us on Instagram:
@valeriemckeehan & @thatmakguy (that’s Mak with a K!)

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

In Episode 10 of The UnBound Creative, Valerie and Mak celebrate their milestone by diving into a quietly radical idea: delight as a wayfinder.

We live in a world that values hustle, productivity, and achievement, and yet, so many of us feel lost or disconnected. What if the missing piece isn’t more effort, but more delight?

In this deeply reflective and joy-sparking conversation, you’ll learn:

• Why delight is not frivolous, but one of your most powerful creative tools
• The difference between false and true delight (and how to tell which one you’re following)
• How small glimmers of joy can be clues to your next big move
• Why “figuring it out” is less effective than being open, present, and attuned
• How to start noticing (and trusting) what lights you up, even in the smallest ways

If you’ve been waiting for permission to soften, pause, and listen to what’s truly calling you, this is it.

Thanks for listening to The UnBound Creative!

If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with a friend or leave us a review, it helps more creatives discover the show.

💌 Connect with us on Instagram:
@valeriemckeehan & @thatmakguy (that’s Mak with a K!)

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

Overthinking kills creativity, and it happens faster than you realize.

In this episode, we unpack how fear often disguises itself as "preparation" and why it smothers your best ideas before they have a chance to grow.

You will learn five simple ways to catch overthinking early, trust your creative spark, and take action before fear takes over.

If you have ever gotten stuck in research, comparison, or second-guessing before you even start, this episode is for you.

Get ready to move forward, trust the delight, and create with courage. Your magic, and the world, are waiting.

Thanks for listening to The UnBound Creative!

If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with a friend or leave us a review, it helps more creatives discover the show.

💌 Connect with us on Instagram:
@valeriemckeehan & @thatmakguy (that’s Mak with a K!)

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

We’re getting honest in this one.

So many creatives feel stuck, not because they aren’t talented or motivated, but because they’re silently following the rules everyone else is following. The ones that say: “Be practical. Play it safe. Stick to the plan.”

In this episode, we unpack why that mindset is stifling your creativity. We explore left-brain vs. right-brain thinking, the pressure to conform, and how school and culture train us to fear failure and abandon joy. Valerie shares insights from Beyond Anxiety by Martha Beck, and Mak opens up about what it’s like to be labeled “rebellious” just for thinking differently.

This is your permission slip to question the shoulds, trust what lights you up, and start living creatively...on your terms.

Whether you’re just getting started or deep in a creative rut, this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air.

🎧 Press play. Make the mess. And stop doing what everyone else is doing.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why following the crowd can kill your creativity
• How left-brain thinking fuels anxiety and what to do instead
• Why rebellion is often a sign of creative strength
• How school and culture condition us to fear failure
• The power of starting messy without a five-year plan
• How to trust your own creative instincts—even when they go against the norm

Thanks for listening to The UnBound Creative!

If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with a friend or leave us a review, it helps more creatives discover the show.

💌 Connect with us on Instagram:
@valeriemckeehan & @thatmakguy (that’s Mak with a K!)

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

A true story of public failure, creative heartbreak, and the unexpected path to redemption.

This is the most vulnerable, raw, and unforgettable story we’ve told on the podcast so far.

In this extended episode, Mak shares the real-life tale of a Christmas train festival gone spectacularly wrong; complete with crushed dreams, media headlines, lawsuits, and a moment that nearly broke him. It's a story of public failure, creative heartbreak, and the surprising redemption that came on the other side.

We know this episode is a bit longer than usual, but if you’ve ever chased a big creative dream, risked it all, or wondered if failure means the end — this is one you need to hear.

🔍 What’s inside:
00:00 – The promise we made in Episode 6
03:00 – How failure becomes part of your story
08:45 – The Christmas train begins
16:00 – Going all in on the dream
25:00 – When things start to unravel
33:00 – Public fallout, lawsuits, and heartbreak
45:00 – What came after: rebuilding, redemption, and lessons learned
1:06:00 – Why your worst moments might be working in your favor

This one’s for the dreamers. For the ones who’ve dared greatly. For anyone who’s ever failed loudly and still wondered if they’re meant for more.

Thanks for listening to The UnBound Creative!

If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with a friend or leave us a review, it helps more creatives discover the show.

💌 Connect with us on Instagram:
@valeriemckeehan & @thatmakguy (that’s Mak with a K!)

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

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.

Thanks for listening to The UnBound Creative!

If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with a friend or leave us a review, it helps more creatives discover the show.

💌 Connect with us on Instagram:
@valeriemckeehan & @thatmakguy (that’s Mak with a K!)

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

If you’ve ever said “I’m not a business person” because you’re creative, this episode is your wake-up call. The idea that creatives aren’t cut out for business is a story, and it’s a false one. In this conversation, we challenge the myth that creativity and business don’t belong together and show you how your artistic instincts are actually your biggest entrepreneurial superpower.

Whether you’re just starting out or feeling stuck inside someone else’s idea of how business should look, this episode will help you flip the script, reclaim your power, and finally start building in a way that feels aligned and alive.

You don’t need permission. You need the truth.

💡 5 Key Takeaways

1. The belief that creatives aren't business-minded is a lie
   It’s been repeated so often that many creatives accept it without question. It’s time to dismantle that.
2. Creativity is problem solving
   And business is just a series of problems to solve. You’re already wired for it.
3. Success comes from the messy middle
   Let go of needing it to be perfect. The magic happens in motion.
4. Stories shape your reality
   The ones you tell yourself matter most. Change the story, change everything.
5. You don’t need to become someone else to succeed
   You’re not missing anything. Who you are is exactly who you need to be.

Follow us on Instagram: @valeriemckeehan & @thatmakguy

Thanks for listening to The UnBound Creative!

If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with a friend or leave us a review, it helps more creatives discover the show.

💌 Connect with us on Instagram:
@valeriemckeehan & @thatmakguy (that’s Mak with a K!)

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

In this fired-up, heart-on-sleeve episode, Mak and Valerie tackle one of the biggest invisible barriers creative people face: waiting for permission.

Whether it's from society, our families, our Instagram followers, or—most sneakily—ourselves, this need for outside validation keeps so many creatives stuck on the sidelines. If you've ever found yourself saying "I'll start when…" or "I'm not legit enough yet," this one’s for you.

They talk candidly about the cultural contradictions around creativity, the fear that hides behind perfectionism, and why messy action is the only kind that actually leads to growth. Expect laughter, tough love, a few rants, and a whole lot of truth.

By the end, you’ll be ready to grab a pen and write your own permission slip—no gatekeepers required.

✨ KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• You don’t need anyone to “pick you.” You’re the one holding the pen. Start writing your own permission slip.
• Waiting to feel “legit” is a lie your fear tells you. Action is what makes you legitimate—not credentials or fancy tools.
• Creativity often gets boxed in by society—but it’s essential, not extra. You’re not frivolous for wanting a creative life. You’re human.
• You’re allowed to pivot. Trying something doesn’t mean you’re locked in forever.
• Feeling jealous? That’s a clue. It’s pointing you toward something your soul wants. Use it.
• No one has it all figured out when they begin. And the ones who look like they do? They just started anyway.
• Every “failed” creative path teaches you something vital. Nothing is wasted.
• Messy, imperfect action beats perfect plans every time. Get your hands dirty. That’s where the magic is.

Follow Valerie & Mak on Instagram: @valeriemckeehan & @thatmakguy

Thanks for listening to The UnBound Creative!

If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with a friend or leave us a review, it helps more creatives discover the show.

💌 Connect with us on Instagram:
@valeriemckeehan & @thatmakguy (that’s Mak with a K!)

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