In this episode of The Unwritten Aesthetic, Reese and Lauren get real about what it means to feel stuck in your creative practice. From writer’s block to painting plateaus, they unpack the frustration of creative ruts and share strategies for finding flow again.

They explore:

• How structure can both help and stifle creativity
• Why confidence in your own ideas is essential
• The tension between academic rules and authentic voice
• Using imagined audiences to unlock better writing
• Practical tools to keep the creative spark alive (journaling, speaking drafts, cutting up notes, etc.)

Whether you’re a painter, writer, poet, or creative of any kind, this conversation will remind you that blocks are part of the process—and that your ideas are worth sharing.

Welcome to The Unwritten Aesthetic, where the intellectual rigor of philosophy meets the creative pursuit of an artful life. A place for two friends to be passionate about philosophy as an artistic pursuit, ask life’s most important questions, create something we believe in, and to be two silly gooses.

Be a part of the Collective and tune in to The Unwritten Aesthetic every other Tuesday.

To find Lauren's work: https://www.laurenbushpaints.com/

To work with Reese: https://www.thecoherecollective.com/coherent-design

Follow The Cohere Collective:

https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/

https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective

Follow Lauren: @laurenbushpaints

https://www.instagram.com/laurenbushpaints/

For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com

To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support

With artful Coherence,

Reese and Lauren

What do philosophers think will happen with the future of AI and what are the ethical implications we all need to be considering now, before it’s too late?

In this episode of The Unwritten Aesthetic, Reese Brown and Lauren Bush explore the artist journey and what it means to balance artistic practice, studio practice, and academic constraints in a world increasingly shaped by AI. From grad school frustrations to the future of artistic expression and artistic vulnerability, they reveal how technology challenges the role of artists, writers, and philosophical thinkers alike.

Expect conversations on:

• How philosophy of art meets AI and why artistic interpretation matters
• The tension between creativity, multidisciplinary creativity, and institutional boundaries
• The creative process as a lived form of existentialism and human experience
• The ethics of AI art through the lens of moral philosophy and thought-provoking ideas
• Why interdisciplinary creativity fuels deeper philosophical ideas and even philosophical comedy (yes, expect some “brilliant idiots” moments)

It’s a conversation that blends rigor with play, weaving artists, writers, and philosophers into one dialogue. Whether you’re navigating academia, questioning the role of AI, or simply chasing your next spark of creativity, this episode is here to inspire and challenge.

Welcome to The Unwritten Aesthetic, where the intellectual rigor of philosophy meets the creative pursuit of an artful life. A place for two friends to be passionate about philosophy as an artistic pursuit, ask life’s most important questions, create something we believe in, and to be two silly gooses.

Be a part of the Collective and tune in to The Unwritten Aesthetic every other Tuesday.

To find Lauren's work: https://www.laurenbushpaints.com/

To work with Reese: https://www.thecoherecollective.com/coherent-design

Follow The Cohere Collective:

https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/

https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective

Follow Lauren: @laurenbushpaints

https://www.instagram.com/laurenbushpaints/

For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com

To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support

References and Resources:

The UN’s Take on AI’s Environmental Impact: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/ai-has-environmental-problem-heres-what-world-can-do-about

With artful Coherence,

Reese and Lauren

Portraits, love, and the philosophy of art — what can a painting really say?

In this episode of The Unwritten Aesthetic, a philosophy of art podcast, Lauren Bush and Reese Brown explore the question: what can an artist truly say through their work? From portraits painted with love and vulnerability to the symbolism of doors and the unexpected ways viewers interpret art, this conversation dives deep into the philosophy of painting. Can an artist control meaning? Should they even try? We unpack the tension between intention and interpretation, the emotional weight of portraits, and why art often says more than words ever could.

Welcome to The Unwritten Aesthetic, where the intellectual rigor of philosophy meets the creative pursuit of an artful life. A place for two friends to be passionate about philosophy as an artistic pursuit, ask life’s most important questions, create something we believe in, and to be two silly gooses.

Be a part of the Collective and tune in to The Unwritten Aesthetic every other Tuesday.

To find Lauren's work: https://www.laurenbushpaints.com/

To work with Reese: https://www.thecoherecollective.com/coherent-design

Follow The Cohere Collective:

https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/

https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective

Follow Lauren: @laurenbushpaints

https://www.instagram.com/laurenbushpaints/

For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com

To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support

With artful Coherence,

Reese and Lauren

In this episode, we discuss the overlapping perspectives between the philosopher Martin Heidegger and artist Paul Klee regarding the essence of the work of art. Through this lens, we interpret art as the vehicle for, and evidence of, the genesis of meaning [the process of bringing meaning into being]. We also explore how this interpretation of art parallels the issue of linguistic translation, asking: what’s the difference between word and image, and how can we bridge that divide? (To further illuminate the essence of art, we also discuss the ancient Greek concepts of khōra and tetelestai.)

Welcome to The Unwritten Aesthetic, where the intellectual rigor of philosophy meets the creative pursuit of an artful life. A place for two friends to be passionate about philosophy as an artistic pursuit, ask life’s most important questions, create something we believe in, and to be two silly gooses.

Be a part of the Collective and tune in to The Unwritten Aesthetic every other Tuesday.

To find Lauren's work: https://www.laurenbushpaints.com/

To work with Reese: https://www.thecoherecollective.com/coherent-design

Follow The Cohere Collective:

https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/

https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective

Follow Lauren:

@laurenbushpaints

https://www.instagram.com/laurenbushpaints/

For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com

To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support

With artful Coherence,

Reese and Lauren

In this episode of The Unwritten Aesthetic, a podcast about philosophy and creativity, we explore the question of whether we can separate the artist from their art and, if so, under what circumstances it is permissible to do so. We ask this question in a variety of contexts—philosophy, music, and visual art—and discuss how social media is making it more difficult to separate someone from their work.

Welcome to The Unwritten Aesthetic, where the intellectual rigor of philosophy meets the creative pursuit of an artful life. A place for two friends to be passionate about philosophy as an artistic pursuit, ask life’s most important questions, create something we believe in, and to be two silly gooses.

Be a part of the Collective and tune in to The Unwritten Aesthetic every other Tuesday.

To find Lauren's work: https://www.laurenbushpaints.com/

To work with Reese: https://www.thecoherecollective.com/coherent-design

Follow The Cohere Collective:

https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/

https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective

Follow Lauren:

https://www.instagram.com/laurenbushpaints/

For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com

To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support

References and Resources:

There are countless articles documenting Picasso’s abusive character. Here’s one that also explores the question of whether it is worth “canceling” Picasso in light of this: https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/picasso-sexism

The following link provides a detailed timeline of Caravaggio’s crimes and the paintings he produced during that time: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Caravaggio/Continued-successes-and-the-murder-of-Tomassoni

Check out the painting “Bacchus” (1596) by Caravaggio here: https://www.caravaggio.org/bacchus.jsp

Check out “Judith Beheading Holofernes” (1611-1612) by Artemisia Gentileschi and learn about how her traumatic experience informed this painting here: https://artincontext.org/judith-slaying-holofernes-by-artemisia-gentileschi/

With artful Coherence,

Reese and Lauren

In this episode of The Unwritten Aesthetic, a philosophy podcast, Reese Brown and Lauren Bush explore the intricate relationship between poetry and art, discussing their creative processes, the questionable value of effort in artistic creation, and the role of humor, spirituality, and the audience in poetry. They delve into the differences between short and long poems, the layers of meaning in both poetry and visual art, and the role of trust in the relationship between the artist and the viewer. The dialogue also touches on the absurdity of life, self-deprecation in art, and philosophical reflections on understanding and interpretation.

Welcome to The Unwritten Aesthetic, a philosophy and creativity podcast where the intellectual rigor of philosophy meets the creative pursuit of an artful life. A place for two friends to be passionate about philosophy as an artistic pursuit, ask life’s most important questions, create something we believe in, and to be two silly gooses.

Be a part of the Collective and tune in to The Unwritten Aesthetic every other Tuesday.

To find Lauren's work: https://www.laurenbushpaints.com/

To work with Reese: https://www.thecoherecollective.com/coherent-design

Follow The Cohere Collective:

https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/

https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective

Follow Lauren:

https://www.instagram.com/laurenbushpaints/

For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com

To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support

With artful Coherence,

Reese and Lauren

In this episode, we (read and) discuss Reese’s Master’s Thesis, which draws from philosophy, poetry spirituality, and literature to begin to answer the enigmatic question: If all of life is pointing to one thing, what is that thing? With this text as our anchor, we discuss the utility of interdisciplinary work for filling in explanatory gaps in specific fields/disciplines, how certain linguistic/narrative choices can reframe topics in a new light, the beauty of remaining open to new viewpoints, and how to live a philosophical life oriented toward community.

Welcome to The Unwritten Aesthetic, where the intellectual rigor of philosophy meets the creative pursuit of an artful life. A place for two friends to be passionate about philosophy as an artistic pursuit, ask life’s most important questions, create something we believe in, and to be two silly gooses.

Be a part of the Collective and tune in to The Unwritten Aesthetic every other Tuesday.

To find Lauren's work: https://www.laurenbushpaints.com/

To work with Reese: https://www.thecoherecollective.com/coherent-design

Follow The Cohere Collective:

https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective

Follow Lauren: https://www.instagram.com/laurenbushpaints/

For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com

To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support

References and Resources:

Feverland by Alex Lemon: https://milkweed.org/book/feverland

Learn about Baha’i: https://www.bahai.org/

Within Reason by Alex O'Connor featuring John Lennox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gKCwldMZS8

With artful Coherence,

Reese and Lauren

In today’s episode of The Unwritten Aesthetic, Reese and Lauren discuss the crisis of language, exploring how to communicate the “mystery” of the “divine” while acknowledging its inherent ineffability. They reflect on why attempting to express the inexpressible remains a worthy endeavor, even if it proves to be impossible, and how this pursuit shapes their approach to life and meaning-making.

Welcome to The Unwritten Aesthetic, where the intellectual rigor of philosophy meets the creative pursuit of an artful life. A place for two friends to be passionate about philosophy as an artistic pursuit, ask life’s most important questions, create something we believe in, and to be two silly gooses.

Content Warning: 01:01:20-1:15:25 Self-Harm and Suicide

Suicide is discussed as an example for finding meaning in an existentialist context and is mentioned several times throughout this passage.

Resources for those Facing Self-Harm: https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/

https://afsp.org/suicide-prevention-resources/

Be a part of the Collective and tune in to The Unwritten Aesthetic every other Tuesday.

To find Lauren's work: https://www.laurenbushpaints.com/

To work with Reese: https://www.thecoherecollective.com/life-coaching

Follow The Cohere Collective:

https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/

https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective

Follow Lauren:

https://www.instagram.com/laurenbushpaints/

For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com

To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support

For full show notes, check out the VOD: https://youtu.be/r_beBVJoBgI

With artful Coherence,

Reese and Lauren

In this conversation, Lauren Bush and Reese Brown explore the complexities of awareness, embodiment, and the philosophical concepts of Dasein and being/Being/beyng, using one of Lauren’s recent philosophy papers. They discuss the importance of grounding awareness in action, the tension between subjectivity and wholeness, and the implications of Heidegger's ideas on understanding existence. The dialogue also delves into the hard problem of consciousness and its parallels with quantum physics, ultimately seeking to bridge the gap between physical and non-physical experiences.

Welcome to The Unwritten Aesthetic, where the intellectual rigor of philosophy meets the creative pursuit of an artful life. A place for two friends to be passionate about philosophy as an artistic pursuit, ask life’s most important questions, create something we believe in, and to be two silly gooses.

Be a part of the Collective and tune in to The Unwritten Aesthetic every other Tuesday.

To find Lauren's work: https://www.laurenbushpaints.com/

To work with Reese: https://www.thecoherecollective.com/life-coaching

Follow The Cohere Collective:

https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/

https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective

Follow Lauren:

https://www.instagram.com/laurenbushpaints/

For full show notes: https://youtu.be/y3tngYcO4GQ

With artful Coherence,

Reese and Lauren

In this episode, we reflect on our recent excursion to the Uffizi Gallery, exploring why certain paintings “sing” or resonate emotionally with some viewers and not others, and how different artistic approaches—such as hyperrealism, abstraction, and impressionism—might enhance that resonance. We also discuss the privileging of language over the image in the Western philosophical tradition, considering what non-linguistic forms of communication can “say” that linguistic ones cannot.

Welcome to The Unwritten Aesthetic, where the intellectual rigor of philosophy meets the creative pursuit of an artful life. A place for two friends to be passionate about philosophy as an artistic pursuit, ask life’s most important questions, create something we believe in, and to be two silly gooses.

Be a part of the Collective and tune in to The Unwritten Aesthetic every other Tuesday.

To find Lauren's work: https://www.laurenbushpaints.com/

To work with Reese: https://www.thecoherecollective.com/life-coaching

Follow The Cohere Collective:

https://www.instagram.com/thecoherecollective/

https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoherecollective

Follow Lauren: @laurenbushpaints

https://www.instagram.com/laurenbushpaints/

An Apology to Ursula K. LeGuin by Reese: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjk06SdVVmM

For more information, head to www.thecoherecollective.com

To support The Cohere Collective, head to https://www.thecoherecollective.com/support

With artful Coherence,

Reese and Lauren