Creative conversations

My conversation partner this week is Rick Rigdon. In Rick's words: I'm a 63 year-old gay man who lives with my spouse of 26 years in Everett, Washington. (We've officially been married for 8 years after marriage equality passed in the US). I'm an INFJ who's a semi-retired web developer. This past year, I created a blog (Mystical Bear) where I document my experiences of using the writing of a novel as a tool to help overcome depression, anxiety, and PTSD that I've experienced most of my life. Find Rick at: mysticalbear.com We talked about:- Rick's story with PTSD, depression & anxiety- Rick's experiences with conventional therapy / what worked for him & what didn't- Flashbacks & a painful break-up / on unhappy experiences & mental health stuff- How holotropic breathwork helped Rick- Rick's current outlook on his depression- The importance of having a creative outlet to manage his depression- Rick's fiction project / the origins of the story- Rick's relationship with his father- Rick's experiences with blogging & why he is writing- On writing for ourselves, authenticity, and sharing what we write online- Why Rick decided to start his Mystical Bear blog- How sharing his experiences through writing online has helped him thus far//by ⁠⁠Jas Hothi⁠⁠, with music by ⁠⁠Chris Porter⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My conversation partner this week is Laurence Warner, aka 'Cerulean'. In Laurence's own words: I'm Cerulean, an independent Performing Artist, born Laurence Warner in Eastleigh, a small town on England's South Coast. I make pop music for your ears AND your brain (and sometimes even your funny bone too)! I'm proudly #SavvyIndie, but I love to collaborate with creatives across The Arts & Tech to put on a show. Find Laurence at: https://wa.rner.meWe talked about: - Laurence’s music-making process - Making money from your art - Is Laurence an extrovert or an ambivert? / Myers-Briggs chat - The “organic” journey of the indie artist - Why Laurence makes music, and the magic of “sonic experiences” (music) vs verbal (words) - Who is Cerulean? (aka Laurence’s artist name) - Using the internet to share your authentic expression with other people… but balancing this with using tech in an intentional way - Laurence’s advice for indie musicians promoting their work - The joy of being an ‘independent artist’ vs going ‘traditional’ - SavvyIndie: Laurence’s plans for this community for independent musicians / music artists//by ⁠⁠Jas Hothi⁠⁠, with music by ⁠⁠Chris Porter⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The eighth conversation in a series with my friend Lauren Sapala. Lauren is a writer, writing coach and INFJ. Find Lauren at: laurensapala.comWe talked about:- Tools for changing the 'stories' you tell yourself- Lauren's journey from alcoholism to sobriety & re-discovering writing- Why Lauren really needed her silent writing group when she started writing again- "Breathing out our stuff" / why Lauren writes- Focusing on writing for yourself vs being a full-time author or making an income from it- The job Lauren worked whilst she was writing & blogging, & how Lauren has set up her business- The types of genre INFPs & INFJs seem to be particularly drawn to//by ⁠⁠Jas Hothi⁠⁠, with music by ⁠⁠Chris Porter⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My conversation partner this week is David Johnson. In David's own words: I am an Englishman married and living in Hawaii. I have been a practicing Tibetan Buddhist for 30 years (ouch, where does the time go?). I identify as an introvert and highly sensitive person (INFJ), and work as a Life Coach. Find David at: crossingthethreshold.netWe talk about:- The effects of the (full) moon / sleep- David's travels to the Himalayas - and beyond- Tibetan Buddhism, faith, religion & spirituality- Hedonic vs eudaimonic happiness- David's writing, blogging and podcasting- How David's online presence & business has unfolded- Micro blog & social media- David's book: "Meditation Tips for Introverts and Highly Sensitive People"- Men & high sensitivity//by ⁠⁠Jas Hothi⁠⁠, with music by ⁠⁠Chris Porter⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ayelet is a multiple award winning author of the F*ck the Bucket List Trilogy and Our Journey to Corporate Sanity, and a co-contributor to Dear CEO, a book by Thinkers50. She had a very successful traditional career as a strategy and innovation leader at Cisco where she worked around the world. Ayelet is recognized by Forbes as one of the top 50 global female futurists and is one of the top 50 Future of Work leaders for Thinkers360. Her current work focuses on conscious leadership and creating whole systems and lives. Find Ayelet at: ayeletbaron.comWe talked about:- firing herself from her PhD programme, her experiences in the corporate world, & the family + societal expectations she felt - where Ayelet's ambition comes from, & early memories of war - on being someone who is an introvert, idealistic and emotional  - moving away from unhelpful models that exist in the world & in business, and towards more whole, holistic environments - Ayelet's transformational trip to Ecuador - Going against the conventional advice and burning the bridges that are toxic for you - Ayelet's dream to write as a kid, learning to write from the heart, & her journey to being an author - Ayelet's books, & how she wrote them - What the concept of 'The Universe' means to us both - Ayelet's upcoming trek into nomadic life - Ayelet's new online platform to realise her vision & connect the creators of the world - Ayelet's words of advice for intuitives & creatives//by ⁠⁠Jas Hothi⁠⁠, with music by ⁠⁠Chris Porter⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Kendra's words: I am a writer, podcaster, and creativity coach with a background in social science research. I coach other creatives, sensitive intuitives, and late bloomers who are trying to create lives that feel purpose-driven and satisfying at a deep level. I'm currently working on a research project on living life experimentally rather than conceptually, and why this may be a better way to approach life for creative late bloomers struggling to feel like they are fulfilling their potential. Find Kendra at: kendrapatterson.comWe talked about:- Experiencing 'whole-life' burnout, and how this added context to Kendra's experience of depression & anxiety  - Why conventional therapy doesn't seem to work for us, and the conclusions that Kendra and I have drawn about this  - On money: living frugally whilst on the creative path, vs peers who are hitting conventional, societal milestones  - When Kendra knew that the conventional path wasn't for her, and moving out of burnout, depression & anxiety  - Experimental vs conceptual types, & being a "late (repeat) bloomer"  - Why Kendra's "dark night of the soul" was exactly what she needed to experience  - Testing as an INFJ, but identifying as an INFP//by ⁠⁠Jas Hothi⁠⁠, with music by ⁠⁠Chris Porter⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leslie: I help creative and ambitious personality types (including INFJs) to tap the potential of their personality to live a more purposeful life. Leslie is an INFJ. Find Leslie at: lesliemcdaniel.com//by ⁠⁠Jas Hothi⁠⁠, with music by ⁠⁠Chris Porter⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the seventh conversation in a series with my friend Lauren Sapala. Lauren is a writer, writing coach and INFJ. Find Lauren at: laurensapala.comWe talked about:- School, family life, & cultural "rules" and expectations - Labels like "shy", "selective mutism" and "bipolar" - Job titles, creating your own vocation & answering the question "So, what you do?" at Indian weddings - The slow, unfolding journey of an intuitive career-changer who wants to 'do their own thing' - Lauren's approach with putting her stuff "out there" (using a soup analogy), how she treats her fiction writing, and a fiction book recommendation//by ⁠⁠Jas Hothi⁠⁠, with music by ⁠⁠Chris Porter⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roxana: I help other introverts become socially confident. As a former socially anxious person, I know how hard it is to be yourself in social situations without letting anxiety get the best of you. I created honestrox to provide you with the best content to help you show up as yourself confidently. Roxana is an INFJ. Find Roxana at: honestrox.com//by ⁠⁠Jas Hothi⁠⁠, with music by ⁠⁠Chris Porter⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shelly is an author, author-coach and publisher. She founded Creative Courage Press in 2020, inspired by the people who she met while writing a book called The Courage Way. Shelly lives in the high-desert of Colorado in the US, although she loves road trips and working from anywhere. Find Shelly at: creativecouragepress.comWe talked about:- Shelly's life & background so far (sabbatical, nomading and road trips) - The shortcomings of traditional/mainstream publishing, and how publishing has now changed thanks to technology - The opportunities now available to writers, and why self-publishing is a great fit for INFs/iNtuitives & introverts - Distributing your writing; choosing the social media channel that fits you & your personality, and sowing the seeds to connect with your readers - On the power of writing in a group, and asking for the type of feedback you are looking for, so that the book we are writing comes from our heart - Shelly's advice for first-time authors, when it comes to balancing the 'creating' and the 'marketing' pieces - How the launch for my own book, The Indie Author, is shaping up. - Shelly's books, how she manages her projects, and what's on the horizon for her//by ⁠⁠Jas Hothi⁠⁠, with music by ⁠⁠Chris Porter⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.