Here are my lessons learned from taking time to work on myself, my art, my time management and many other facets of being me for these last four weeks.

I hope these lessons learned will help you set boundaries, do your creative work, and discover how you work best.

Cheers!

Get exclusive content and bonus podcast episodes when you join my Patreon.

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.

Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call

New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg

Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series

https://crossroads.consulting/ 

This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)

It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**

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Ever start a project only to abandon it halfway through because you judged it too soon? You’re not alone. Millions of half-finished books, paintings, and songs aren’t abandoned because the ideas were bad. They’re abandoned because judgment crept in before the work was ready.

In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda Trakhtenberg explores why judging your work while you’re creating fuels anxiety, stalls momentum, and keeps projects unfinished. You’ll discover concrete strategies to quiet the inner critic, separate creation from editing, and protect your flow so you can actually finish the work you start.

If you’ve ever told yourself “this is terrible” or worried “I’ll never top this,” this episode will help you release judgment, reduce anxiety, and get back into creative flow.

Tune in and learn:

Why judgment and creation don’t belong in the same room

How early praise can be just as paralyzing as early criticism

Practical tools to keep working even when anxiety shows up

Simple rituals to create distance so you can evaluate more objectively later

Don’t let judgment bury your work in a drawer. Protect your creative process and finally see your ideas through.

Want personal coaching to help you quiet anxiety and finish your projects? Book a free discovery call with me here.

Get exclusive content and bonus podcast episodes when you join my Patreon.

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.

Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call

New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg

Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series

This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)

It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**

Listen on These Channels

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Ever feel stuck staring at a blank page, unsure how to even start writing? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, I share how writing from simple prompts, just one word, can fire up your imagination and sharpen your ability to express yourself clearly, boldly, and confidently. You’ll learn how this technique builds real-world communication skills, helps you think on your feet, and turns even the most ordinary word into a story worth telling. Whether you're a student, creator, or just someone who wants to speak up more effectively, this episode gives you a proven way to strengthen your voice. And you won’t be doing it alone. There’s a growing creative community doing the same. Join us and take the first step toward the stories only you can tell.

Solve the Mysteries in History. Get the introduction to my brand new series, The Gemma Blackthorne Mysteries in History True Crime Podcaster series. You can read it before anyone else has the chance. You'll get the short story that introduces Gemma and Earth-shattering mystery at the center of her world and ours. Here's the cover.

Get exclusive content and bonus podcast episodes when you join my Patreon.

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.

Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call

New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg

Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series

This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)

It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**

What if your anxiety wasn’t a life sentence but instead a signal pointing you toward a more creative, confident way of living? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, I open up about my own struggles with anxiety how it shows up in my daily life, where it stems from, and how I’m learning to put down what I call my “anxiety suitcase.” I’ll share real stories, mindfulness practices that actually help, and a few hard-earned lessons that keep me moving forward. My goal is simple: to give you tools to quiet that inner critic, ease the pressure, and create from a place of joy instead of stress. If you’ve ever felt worry holding you back, this episode is for you.

Get exclusive content and bonus podcast episodes when you join my Patreon.

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.

Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call

New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg

Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series

This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)

It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**

Listen on These Channels

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | MyTuner | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Deezer | Overcast | PodChaser | Listen Notes | Player FM | Podcast Addict | Podcast Republic |

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What if a single card game could spark laughter, connection, and creativity in your life? In this episode, Izolda sits down with the warm-hearted team from Hootenanny Games, the Nashville-based publisher behind Feelin’ Cute, their brand-new game of animal adorableness. You'll hear how this lighthearted game brings out big laughs, encourages storytelling, and helps people of all ages connect (and compete!) with kindness. Whether you're eight or eighty, Feelin’ Cute is designed to melt hearts and break the ice in minutes. This interview was conducted at Toy Fair 2025 in New York City, in partnership with Southard Communications, where Hootenanny Games showcased their latest creations. Tune in to hear how Hootenanny’s down-home charm and sharp game design create joyful experiences and how you can bring that same energy to your creative life and relationships. Playful, heartfelt, and packed with ideas you’ll want to try, this episode is pure fun.

https://playhootenanny.com/

https://www.instagram.com/playhootenanny/

https://www.youtube.com/@HootenannyGames

https://www.facebook.com/people/Hootenanny-Games/61550682523515/

Solve the Mysteries in History. Get the introduction to my brand new series, The Gemma Blackthorne Mysteries in History True Crime Podcaster series. You can read it before anyone else has the chance. You'll get the short story that introduces Gemma and Earth-shattering mystery at the center of her world and ours. Here's the cover.

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.

Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call

New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg

Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series

This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)

It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**

Listen on These Channels

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | MyTuner | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Deezer | Overcast | PodChaser | Listen Notes | Player FM | Podcast Addict | Podcast Republic |

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Dominic Crapuchettes founded North Star Games in 2003 after several near death experiences as the captain of an Alaskan boat. His designs, which include Evolution, Oceans, Say Anything, and Wits & Wagers, have sold nearly 5 million copies and won countless awards. For the past five years, Dominic has been working on an enormous project: a modular game system called Nature that makes Evolution more accessible and easily expandable. 

We sat down to talk about his unique definition of courage and how it has helped him rebuild a beloved company.

Creative leadership hits home in this conversation.

The Nature Game Box Cover

Connect with North Star Games

NorthStarGames.com

https://www.instagram.com/northstargames/

Facebook.com/northstargames

Solve the Mysteries in History. Get the introduction to my brand new series, The Gemma Blackthorne Mysteries in History True Crime Podcaster series. You can read it before anyone else has the chance. You'll get the short story that introduces Gemma and Earth-shattering mystery at the center of her world and ours. Here's the cover.

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.

Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call

New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg

Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series

Flip Your Inner Script to Stop Negative Thoughts From Ruining Your Day.

This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)

It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**

Are you enjoying the show? I'd love it if you would buy me a coffee.

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Are you pitching yourself to podcasts but not hearing back? You might be missing the sweet spot between timely and evergreen, and that’s what gets you booked. In this episode, I share 10 powerful themes that are always relevant and show you how to make each one personal, memorable, and pitch-perfect. You'll learn how to position your ideas so they feel urgent and lasting.

That's something podcast hosts love. If you want to stand out, get yeses, and show up as the guest producers recommend again and again, this episode is packed with practical strategies to help you do it. Plus, if you’re ready for tailored support, I share how you can work with me directly to shape your pitch and show up like a pro.

Solve the Mysteries in History. Get the introduction to my brand new series, The Gemma Blackthorne Mysteries in History True Crime Podcaster series. You can read it before anyone else has the chance. You'll get the short story that introduces Gemma and Earth-shattering mystery at the center of her world and ours. Here's the cover.

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.

Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call

New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg

Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series

This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)

It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**

Listen on These Channels

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | MyTuner | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Deezer | Overcast | PodChaser | Listen Notes | Player FM | Podcast Addict | Podcast Republic |

**Affiliate Link

What if your creativity was the key to living with more presence, purpose, and peace? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda sits down with Nicole Rank, author, intuitive guide, and creative mindfulness teacher, whose mission is to help people reconnect with Love through poetry and presence. You’ll hear how shifting from mind-centered to heart-centered creativity can transform how you think, create, and live. Nicole shares simple, powerful ways to bring more mindfulness and meaning into your daily life through art, nature, and the written word. If you're looking for a way to reconnect with your inner voice and live more intentionally, this episode is for you. Tune in and take one step closer to a more creative, curious, and confident life.

Connect with Nicole

https://love-eyes.com 

https://www.onlylovecanhealtheworld.com/

https://www.instagram.com/onlylovecanhealtheworld/

https://www.instagram.com/sadhbh.adamea/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092877690842

https://www.youtube.com/@Love-EyesSD

Solve the Mysteries in History. Get the introduction to my brand new series, The Gemma Blackthorne Mysteries in History True Crime Podcaster series. You can read it before anyone else has the chance. You'll get the short story that introduces Gemma and Earth-shattering mystery at the center of her world and ours. Here's the cover.

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.

Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call

New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg

Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series

This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)

It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**

Listen on These Channels

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | MyTuner | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Deezer | Overcast | PodChaser | Listen Notes | Player FM | Podcast Addict | Podcast Republic |

**Affiliate Link

What if your next big creative breakthrough came wrapped in a mystery and served with a side of bourbon? In this episode, award-winning author Cathi Stoler shares how she writes gripping suspense, unforgettable characters, and twisty plots that keep readers up all night. Plus, Cathi reveals what running a bar (on the page) can teach you about building community and conflict. If you’re writing fiction, or thinking about starting, this episode offers real tools to build stories that matter. 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CathiStolerAuthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathistolerauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4807990.Cathi_Stoler

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathi-stoler-2806803/

Website: www.cathistoler.com

Solve the Mysteries in History. Get the introduction to my brand new series, The Gemma Blackthorne Mysteries in History True Crime Podcaster series. You can read it before anyone else has the chance. You'll get the short story that introduces Gemma and Earth-shattering mystery at the center of her world and ours. Here's the cover.

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.

Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call

New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg

Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series

This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)

It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**

Listen on These Channels

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | MyTuner | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Deezer | Overcast | PodChaser | Listen Notes | Player FM | Podcast Addict | Podcast Republic |

**Affiliate Link

What if the one thing holding you back from deeper connection, greater impact, or even your next opportunity is the story you’re not telling? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda shares why your personal story is one of your most powerful tools for building trust, aligning with your values, and inspiring action. You’ll hear how to share it across platforms (yes, even on LinkedIn!) and three techniques that will make your storytelling more vivid, engaging, and unforgettable. Whether you’re a creative, a leader, or someone just trying to communicate more effectively, this episode will help you make your story resonate wherever and however you tell it.

Solve the Mysteries in History. Get the introduction to my brand new series, The Gemma Blackthorne Mysteries in History True Crime Podcaster series. You can read it before anyone else has the chance. You'll get the short story that introduces Gemma and Earth-shattering mystery at the center of her world and ours. Here's the cover.

Connect with Izolda

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.

Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call

New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg

Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series

This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)

It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**