Creative Pep Talk
Andy J. Pizza
A Weekly Podcast Companion for Your Creative JourneyTransform your creative potential into reality by making your creativity a practice. A “creative discipline” can feel like an oxymoron. Creativity is about doing something new. Discipline is about doing something consistently. The aim of this podcast is to help you strike that elusive balance. Each week, New York Times Bestselling Author Illustrator Andy J. Pizza shares everything he’s learning about building a thriving creative practice. Through solo episodes and interviews with top-tier creatives, Pizza brings you the strategies and stories that you need week in and week out to keep your inner critic at bay, bust through creative blocks and stay creatively pepped to the max!!Learn more: creativepeptalk.comCheck out the host: andyjpizza.com
Episodes
Mentioned books
19 snips
Mar 25, 2026 • 35min
548 - 5 Creative / Neurodivergent Friendly Productivity Hacks to Become a Doer
Five neurodivergent-friendly productivity hacks are unpacked in short, actionable segments. Morning revs and ritual habits to kickstart creative energy get spotlighted. Practical tricks include quick-start creative sprints, simplifying daily decisions with a repeatable wardrobe, and harvesting easy byproducts like doodles and surplus ideas. A quick self-quiz helps identify your neurotype to tailor your workflow.
16 snips
Mar 18, 2026 • 1h 8min
547 - Find the Creative Voice You're Holding Back with Claire Keane
Claire Keane, author-illustrator and visual development artist behind Who Are You? and work on Tangled and Frozen, shares her journey reclaiming a personal creative voice. She talks about using sketchbooks, confronting panic and healing, shifting from pleasing others to making personal work, and the moment a simple prompt sparked a picture book. Short, candid, and inspiring creative talk.
35 snips
Mar 11, 2026 • 28min
546 - How to Transform What You're Drowning in Into High Octane Creative Fuel
A lively chat about turning personal pain and daily burdens into lasting creative fuel. He breaks down three types of creative energy—obsessions, anger, and breakdowns—and shows how to harvest each. A practical 'Create in Your Sleep' technique links dreams and symbols to ideas. Creativity is reframed as a form of self care that transforms overwhelm into productive work.
23 snips
Mar 4, 2026 • 1h 12min
545 - Make Your Life & Creative Work More Rich with Meaning with Jarod K. Anderson
Jarod K. Anderson, poet and author known as The CryptoNaturalist, explores nature, mental health, and the fantastical. He discusses sincerity in art, mixing truth and fiction, and how neurodivergence shapes creative life. Conversations touch on emotional risk, small daily practices, and building a personal mythos through storytelling.
Feb 25, 2026 • 35min
544 - Quit Focusing on Being Discovered and Sales and Do This Instead
The conversation reveals a hidden third ingredient creatives often miss between being discovered and making sales. It explores how to turn awareness into real fans by building trust through regular show-and-tell work. It covers defining the value your art delivers, picking the right channels and project names, and starting small to build consistent creative muscle.
14 snips
Feb 18, 2026 • 40min
543 - 3 Shifts to Make if You Feel Off Creatively
They explore three creative tightropes that get artists out of balance. Topics include balancing standing out with fitting in, learning rules before bending them, and when to follow your inner voice versus testing work publicly. Practical counterbalance exercises and examples for shifting gears are highlighted.
23 snips
Feb 11, 2026 • 55min
542 - When to Reboot Your Work + A Better Option than Beating Yourself Up with Zak Rosen
Zak Rosen, podcast host and producer who recently rebranded his show, joins to talk naming, creative identity, and why making your project’s “door smaller” helps reach the right people. They explore minimalist interview craft, tight questioning techniques, and small rituals that are oddly helpful. Conversation also softens self-talk and offers kinder ways to face resistance.
25 snips
Feb 4, 2026 • 44min
541 - Are You Afraid of The Art? How to Get Past the Fear and Have Fun Again
They dig into why making art feels scary and how fear hijacks creative choices. They explore moving from a binary good/bad view to a full-color, playful approach. There are tests and reflection steps to reveal your judgement patterns and reconnect with curiosity. Archetype flipping and opposite truths get attention as ways to make work more interesting and fun.
56 snips
Jan 28, 2026 • 1h 24min
540 - Why the Creative Path Has to Be Twisty and Turny with Nishant Jain
Nishant Jain, author and illustrator behind Make Sneaky Art, sketches in public and champions curiosity-led practice. He discusses practicing observational drawing, embracing imperfection, playful exercises like the curiosity spiral, and balancing strategy with creative chaos. Short, lively stories show why a twisty, nonlinear creative path sparks discovery and style.
34 snips
Jan 21, 2026 • 38min
539 - This Super Easy Thing Will Make A Massive Impact On Your Creative Practice
Struggling with goal setting? Discover how shifting from big results to process goals can reignite your creativity. Learn the importance of choosing the right inputs, like books and podcasts, to reshape your mindset. Engage in the 'Select the Seed' exercise to identify simple yet impactful daily actions. Explore ways to find your first domino, allowing small wins to create momentum. This fresh perspective might just help you turn your creative aspirations into reality!
