35: Artist as Empath

This week on the podcast Merideth explores the strength of being a deep feeler, how artists can use their sensitivity to nurture empathy in others. She'll also discuss the important distinction between being an empath and suffering from clinical depression; how we all might see our potential for deep empathy as a strength, while setting healthy boundaries around our mental health. 

Check out these mental health resources on our website.

Read the article from The Atlantic about spiders taking flight

Submit a creative conundrum to the show.

Watch and listen to more Todd Groves

33: Talent + Hardwork = ?

This week on the podcast Merideth examines the popular mantra: talent + hard work= success. How much do our unique and innate gifts contribute to our success as an artist? Are those two parts of the equation all there is to a satisfactory life as a creative person? Merideth shares a story of how a complete stranger once called out an unexpected talent that would became a calling. She’ll explore a not so commonly considered third element to that equation which she believes could help all artists along their journey to joy.

Join our next Artist’s Way Creative Cluster starting soon!

32: Repeat the Sounding Joy

What *is* joy, how is it different from regular old happiness, why is choosing joy an important practice to cultivate as an artist, anyway? This week, Merideth shares some ideas on what to do in between joyful memories on stage, plus more on what is behind the podcast’s name.

Learn more about Indictus Project here

31: People Pleasing

Should artists be people pleasers? Is it possible (or wise) to stop caring what people think? This week Merideth shares a personal story about a big decision that helped her stop her people pleasing habit, plus she’ll explore how the work of sociologist and writer Martha Beck impacted her perception of her “generalized other” and led to a more joyful life as a musician.

Enneagram Workshop Registration

Artist’s Way Creative Cluster Registration

30: Faith

This week we are talking faith...faith in the creative process, faith in ourselves and each other, and the very light and non-controversial topic of how our concept of a higher power can harm or expand our creative lives. 

Read the Margaret Mead article here.

Register for the Enneagram Workshop here.

29: Bonus Content: Mindfulness Meditation

Meditation is proven to relieve stress and improve overall health. Join Merideth for a bonus episode featuring a special guided mindfulness meditation. It features music of marimba player/composer Chris Leich. The Artists for Joy theme song is by Angela Sheik.

28: Mindfulness

This week join Merideth as she explores mindfulness: why she was so resistant to a mindfulness practice at first, how and why she eventually came around, and what our work in the arts can teach us about living in the now.

Submit your creative conundrum here.

27: Change

Change—even when it’s for the best—is hard. Merideth shares a time when she was surprisingly resistant to change and offers one way of viewing our creative work as an offering and invitation into hope. She’ll answer a listener’s creative conundrum about creative blocks, plus share a special announcement.

Share your creative conundrum here.

26: The Purpose in Play

This week on the podcast Merideth explores the purpose we may find in play, how making space for unstructured, unproductive, purely playful activities can lead us all to deeper creative joy and might even help us uncover our next step or truer purpose.

Submit your creative conundrum here.

Listen to more of pianist Anna Kislitsyna here.

25: Letting Go

This week, Merideth explores the art of letting go. Is it beautiful or just plain painful?  She’ll share her thoughts on how it can be an expected part of the creative process and a road to healing.

This week’s artwork is by Emie Hughes of Blue Jar, LLC. To read more about the cyanotype process and purchase her work click here, view her instagram here, or her etsy shop here.

Learn more about the Pixis piano quartet here.

Submit a creative conundrum here.

24: Failure

This week Merideth takes on the tough topic of failure. She’ll offer 3 tips for processing, bouncing back, and cultivating a healthy sense of self outside of our art form or roles in life.

Hear the full recording of Beethoven’s Sonatina for Mandolin here.

23: Artist with a capital A

Hands down the most common statement in Merideth's inbox about the show is--"I love your show but I am not an artist!" This week Merideth explores this conundrum...who gets to call themselves an Artist with a capital A?  She'll share a quote from an inspiring book about creativity, plus offer some insights on how to unclip the wings of your inner artist and perhaps find healing in the process. 

Read the Brenda Ueland quote from the episode.

Read about Van Gogh’s Letters

Listen to Merideth and Jani's Beau Soir Album on Spotify

22: Rest

Do you know how to rest? This week Merideth explores the full spectrum of rest from an artist's perspective-- from mind-numbing TV to the REM cycles of the coveted 8 hours of sleep. She explores one writer's idea on how to do nothing, how we might translate our knack for creativity into a practice of restorative rest, and how this idea is built right into the creative process itself. 

Read more about Jenny Odell's book here.
Listen to Jessica X. Osborne here. 
Download Jason Blythe's music here. 

21: Some Dreams Take a Lifetime

This week, in our 20th episode, Merideth looks at the themes within the theme. Ever feel like you are losing hope in the face of disappointments or detours? Merideth will share her experience of those feelings, plus something we all have in common with child prodigies. She'll help us all celebrate the twists and turns of the long game that an artist's life often involves.

Listen to Angela Sheik's full version of the theme song here.

Help us celebrate the 20th episode milestone by leaving us a review.

20: Tuning In To Your Inner Dialogue

Do you hear the voices? The inner voices that chastise or criticize you at every turn? This week on the podcast, Merideth explores how we all might tune in to our unique inner dialogues. Listen to learn how defining the negative voices inside your mind can help quiet their chatter, plus other tips. Lastly, don’t miss the exclusive offer for podcast listeners that goes live soon---listen to learn more!

Download your companion worksheet here

Read more about Graydin here

Take advantage of the special offering for podcast listeners here

19: How to Feel Better

Six months into this pandemic (here in the US, anyway), Merideth checks in and offers one idea about why so many of us may be struggling anew right now. She’ll share her experience with the Abraham Hick’s Emotional Guidance Scale (image below), used as a tool for self-regulation of emotions. This week’s episode features the music of Schubert, Grieg, Elgar, Debussy, Vivaldi, and Salvatore Di Vittorio, performed by Chamber Orchestra of NY. (Don't worry: the phrases “unprecedented times” or “the new normal” will never appear in this podcast! OK... well... almost never...)

Read the article about surge capacity here.

18: The Art of Studying and Teaching with Joy

This week Merideth explores how arts training can burn us out or zap our creativity. She’ll propose some ideas for staying joyful as we study or teach our art form, like naming and claiming your creative impulse, finding your tribe, and more. This episode features music of the most popular composer you’ll hear in any classical music school—J.S. Bach. Don’t forget to download your worksheet here to answer the prompts she mentioned in the show.

Click here if you are in crisis and need support right now.

The Mappiness Project Study

Depression and Creativity Study

Different Types of Mental Health Professionals

17: Bonus Content: The Well, a visualization

This week, in lieu of a full episode, Merideth shares a visualization exercise that explores our thirst for self-acceptance and worthiness. Join her on this guided daydream of sorts to explore the concept of an inner well; a source we all might draw from on the journey. This episode features music of Seth Waldron, Joseph McDade and Angela Sheik. 

Read more about the science behind visualization here.

Read a transcript of the exercise here.

16: Do (Not) Read the Comments

Ever read the comments and then swiftly regret it? Wonder how to manage criticism, the need for recognition, the desire to be applauded, especially in this age of the internet? Merideth shares some personal advice that one of her favorite writers offered on the subject. Plus, an alternative: how we might draw a sense of value and recognition from a different source.

Give clean water to 1 person for $50 via World Vision

Join the Artist’s Way Creative Cluster

15: Self-care

In this episode, Merideth shares some practical tips for taking care of yourself. Interwoven with music of Chopin, Swift/Rose, Piazzolla, and Bach, you’ll hear a special three part “Ode to Taking Good Care” inspired by the email signature of her therapist.

Listen to the playlist here

Enneagram workshop 8/18/20

Register for the next Artist's Way Creative Cluster