201: Beyond Self-Criticism: Take the Wheel

This week, Merideth shares a vulnerable story of a recent self-hatred spiral. She explores how and why artists are particularly hard on themselves. If you've ever wondered if your mistakes are moral failings, this one is for you. Merideth gives practical advice for when you are stuck and shares how turning up the voices of self-compassion in the face of shame is crucial for sustainable growth and change.

Join the November 11th "Sparking Joy through Play" Workshop

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How to be you, Season 3, Episode 2

Musical Meditation: Inner Team Huddle

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200: We are not alone

Celebrate 200 episodes of Artist for Joy with listeners offering their best advice for artists + something they've learned from Artists for Joy.  Merideth also shares what to do when you're hesitant to celebrate, reflections on finding your voice, a surprise peek into an early recording, and more.

What a joyful ride! Thank you for listening. Here's to the next 200!

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Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts 

199: Joyful Mashup

This week on the podcast, Merideth celebrates (almost) 200 episodes by looking back on everything we've learned in joyful mashup form! Listen for a turbo-sized creative pep talk, a love letter to you, my podcast listeners. <3

Support us on Patreon

Taming the Inner Gremlin Workshop

Enneagram series playlist

Record a 200-episode celebration voice memo to be featured in next week’s episode

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198: 10 things bringing me joy this fall

This week on the podcast, I’ve got 10 things that are bringing me joy this fall. Some are deep and others may, at first glance, seem trivial, but this collection of what’s bringing me joy adds up to a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts: in a profoundly simple way, these small wonders are saving my life in this season.  

By consciously bringing good things to mind, we teach our brains to look for the good, and we relive those joyful moments through the remembering.

Hit reply and let me know what's bringing you joy these days!

Links: (some are Affiliate, which means I make a few dollars when you purchase)

See pictures and find all the links in one place in this week's Substack

NY Times Reader’s Choice Top 10 List

Amazon storefront with all the products mentioned here (+ other things I love!)

Home Chef: Get 18 meals for free when you sign up here

Created Colorful: $20 off your color analysis with code FORJOY

197: Throwback: How can we go on?

This episode originally aired in October 2023. Enjoy this throwback! 

Read "Let Art Be Light," Merideth's latest substack piece 

Original Show Notes:

This week on the show, Merideth answers a question we all tend to ask when the world is on fire. How can I feel creative joy in the face of violence, injustice, and brokenness? She explores why art matters in these moments, especially, and how our creativity offers us a place to process the pain and turn our anxiety into energy that can make a difference. The late famous conductor, Leonard Bernstein, answers the age-old question, “How can we go on?” and we learn about two fantastic non-profits using creativity to change the world.

Peace Drums Project

Little Sun

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Email your question to be read on the air: hello@artistsforjoy.org

Photo cred: littlesun.org

196: Joy Sessions: Authenticity (Christina)

In today’s podcast, the final installment of our Joy Sessions series, Merideth chats with Christina, a musician, coach, and teacher who wants to reexamine the beliefs and negative inner dialogue she’s been having about performing. They explore perfectionism, performance anxiety, how to show up authentically when we cannot stop judging ourselves, and so much more. By the end of the call, Christina begins to give herself permission to live out the advice she offers her students, to embrace and enjoy the very human and authentic experience of making music, and to offer herself self-compassion along the way. 

Coach with Merideth (non-recorded)

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195: Joy Sessions: Process Over Product (Mara)

This week’s episode features a Joy Session with Mara, a writer who wants to write a novel but struggles to find the time or energy. We watch Mara identify the underlying reasons for her creative block, including fear of failure and too much focus on the product rather than the process. She names a deep desire for community and encouragement from other writers.

BONUS: At the end of this week's episode, Merideth shares an update from Mara about a week or so after the session, naming how an epiphany renewed her hope and motivation to continue pursuing her creative writing goals.

Links:

Join the email list to get the Friday episode in your inbox

Support us on Patreon

Apply to get a free coaching call and be featured on a Joy Session

Buy Merideth’s book, The Artist’s Joy

194: Joy Sessions: The Discipline Button (Jessi)

Continuing our new series, Joy Sessions, I chat with Jessi, a musician and educator who reflects on how, as a multipassionate artist, she could engage with music in a more meaningful way.

We explore the idea of experimentation and taking small, sustainable steps towards this goal, recognizing the need for a different kind of energy than the usual "discipline button" approach. The conversation highlights the importance of keeping the thread of musical engagement alive through exploration and connection, allowing for a more fulfilling and sustainable relationship with the art form.

If you are interested in doing a coaching call for a future Joy Sessions episode, click here.
Links from the show notes:

Subscribe to Merideth's email list 

Learn more about coaching

Join Patreon

Buy Merideth’s book

Tell us what resonated about the episode on IG

193: Joy Sessions-- Intentionality

Introducing: Joy Sessions. Each week I'll feature excerpts from real sessions with artists of all disciplines, pulling back the curtain on creative coaching as we focus on overcoming creative challenges and finding joy in the artistic process.

This week, Merideth chats with Ericka, a writer who longs to set herself free from the shame cycle of past and current criticism.

Learn more about coaching

Join Patreon

Buy Merideth’s book

Tell us what resonated about the episode on IG

192: Art's Open Door--The Spiritual Song of Created Things

This week on the podcast,  the first installment of a new series started earlier this week over on Substack called “Art’s Open Door,” where we’ll explore the profound ways creativity and spirituality intersect and how viewing art through a spiritual lens is a powerful tool for well-being, connection, and joy.

Usually, these essays will only exist in blog form at artistsforjoy.substack.com, but this week, I am giving you a sneak peek into this new content. 

If you enjoy these more spiritual writings, subscribe to Substack here.

The Common Heart: An Experience of Interreligious Dialogue

Register for the Creative Enneagram 2.0 Workshop

191: Musical Meditation for Making Sense of Life

This week on the podcast: a musical meditation for making sense of life. 

In this guided reflection, explore the following:

  1. Consider your life’s puzzle. Hold a couple of pieces in your hand, and consider now the growth that each piece represents. What do you see?

  2. Look for the piece(s) that don’t seem to fit. What experiences or areas of growth or interest, disparate parts of your journey of life–good or hard—have you yet to accept as your own? Even though you may not yet be able to make sense of certain pieces, ask: what might they be teaching me?

  3. Find the jagged edge of the puzzle, and consider the ways you are growing, the piece you are filling in now. How can you love yourself as you are becoming? What do you want yourself to remember now, in this season?

Join the next Creative Cluster

Buy Merideth's book

Get your printable journal

Register for the Creative Enneagram 2.0 Workshop

189: Time Management Pep-Talk

This week on the podcast, Merideth offers a pep talk for artists and creatives who feel overwhelmed or unmotivated, particularly during transitional periods like the month of August.

Grab your worksheet, so you can: 

  • Name your season

  • Decide if you need a new routine or rhythm (or both!)

  • Discover the small step you'd like to take toward your goal

Join the next Creative Cluster

Buy Merideth's book

Watch the replay of the Procrastination Workshop by becoming a paid supporter on Patreon

188: 3 Q's for when you're procrastinating

This week, Merideth offers some strategies to overcome procrastination to embrace a more joyful and fulfilling creative life. She offers three common lies we tell ourselves when we are having a hard time getting things done: 

  1. I'm lazy.

  2. I just need the right routine.

  3. I'll wait for inspiration to feel motivated. 

She then translates these less-than-helpful thought patterns into questions to unlock what we really need to keep moving. 

Buy Merideth's book The Artist's Joy

Check out K.C. Davis' book "How to Keep House While Drowning"

Join the next Creative Cluster 

Leave a review of Merideth's book: Amazon and Goodreads

Get your printable journal:

Join Merideth for a Procrastination Workshop (or watch the replay) by becoming a paid supporter on Patreon

187: Throwback-- How to Celebrate

Back from the first leg of her book tour, Merideth shares a little about how she’s still learning how to celebrate in this throwback from October 2022.

Original show notes:

Why is it so much easier to celebrate the accomplishments of others than it is our own? Merideth shares two things she is forcing herself to celebrate these days and why she believes celebration should be a core value for every artist.

Support the podcast

Celebrate with us by leaving us a review

Write to Merideth

186: "The Mother Artist" with Catherine Ricketts

Catherine Ricketts is my guest today. She is an essayist, songwriter, writing instructor, and author of The Mother Artist: Portraits of Ambition, Limitation, and Creativity.

We talk about:

  • The historical underrepresentation of mothers in the art world and the societal factors contributing to this.

  • The tension between caring for children and dedicating time to creative work.

  • The importance of support systems, self-belief, and a sense of purpose for mothers 

  • The value of art created by mothers and how we can all support all caregivers in their creative pursuits.

Connect with Catherine on IG

Catherinedanaricketts.com

Order “The Mother Artist”

Find Merideth on her book tour

Order “The Artist’s Joy”

185: "I joyfully swear to forgive myself."

In the final installment of this inspiring series, Robin White, Joshua Long, Lorrie Fredette, and Merideth Hite Estevez read their Artist's Oath.

 The culmination of my book, "The Artist's Joy," the Artist's Oath is a powerful coaching exercise that helps artists name how they want to show up in the world and what they believe. When we stay connected to our values, we are able to move through creative challenges and tough decisions with confidence and grace for ourselves and others.

In this episode:

Robin White

Joshua Long

Lorrie Fredette

Merideth Hite Estevez

Connect with Merideth on her book tour

184: "I joyfully swear to make the art."

This episode features Artist's Oaths, written and read by Elmer Perry, David Westerlund, Sara McMahon, and Sila Wolf.

The culmination of Merideth's book, "The Artist's Joy," the Artist's Oath is a powerful coaching exercise that helps artists name how they want to show up in the world and what they believe. When we stay connected to our values, we are able to move through creative challenges and tough decisions with confidence and grace for ourselves and others.

In this episode:

Elmer Perry, Jr

David Westerlund

Sara McMahon's IG and website

Sila Wolf

Connect with Merideth on her book tour

183: "I joyfully swear to be my own hero."

This episode features Artist's Oath, written and read by Kelsey Bogan, David James, and Karen Rege. 

The culmination of Merideth's book, "The Artist's Joy," the Artist's Oath, is a powerful coaching exercise that helps artists name how they want to show up in the world and what they believe. When we stay connected to our values, we are able to move through creative challenges and tough decisions with confidence and grace for ourselves and others. 

About the artists in this episode: 

Kelsey Bogan: 

Kelsey IG

Kelsey's Facebook

bravelightart.com

 

David James:

David James IG

The Moonlit Wild (David James, bass)

 

Karen Rege:

Connect with Karen on Facebook

 Karen’s LinkedIn

Listen to Karen’s Music

 

Connect with Merideth on her book tour

182: "Oath to Joy," Music and Community with Angela Sheik

In today's episode, Merideth chats with artist, composer, and songwriter Angela Sheik. Angela (whose name you may recognize from every episode's credits as our resident theme songwriter here at Artists for Joy) composed a full-length anthemic jam for Merideth's new book "The Artist's Joy." In this episode, you'll hear the complete track for the first time!

They also discuss how central community is in finding sustainable creative practice and what to do when you feel like quitting. 

"The Artist's Joy" theme song, "Oath to Joy," will be available to stream and download in August, but for now, enjoy this world premiere here on the podcast.

Follow Angela on Spotify

Angelasheik.com 

Buy Merideth's book (a best-seller new release in the creativity category on Amazon!)

Join The Artist's Joy Creative Cluster