

The Resistance
Matt Conner
There's a force at work that keeps you from being you. We feel it, too. It's the reason we avoid making the call, the reason we put off the diet. It's why we've done nothing about that entrepreneurial idea, that creative endeavor, that new relationship. In his book The War of Art, Stephen Pressfield defines this universal force as Resistance. Welcome to The Resistance, a new podcast featuring honest interviews with creative persons about this force and the forms it takes.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 28, 2023 • 36min
Hanson emphasizes the importance of being present in the moment
With 3 Grammy wins, 16 million albums sold, and 30 years of experience, the members of Hanson have learned a thing or two about creativity and resistance. In this episode, they emphasize the importance of being present and the difficulties of differentiating oneself from one's work. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 6, 2023 • 33min
Filmmaker Colin West on learning to mine the mundane
Life doesn't get in the way, so to speak, for Colin West. As an award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter, West has instead learned to embrace the mundane and routine for the substance it provides the stories he tells, including his latest film, Linoleum, a New York Times Critics Pick starring Jim Gaffigan, Tony Shalhoub, and Rhea Seehorn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 16, 2023 • 35min
Travis front man Fran Healy on the willingness to dig for songs
After nine full-length albums, numerous global tours, multiple Brit Awards, and four Platinum releases, you'd think Fran Healy and his bandmates in Travis would be a bit more confident in their ability to write a great song. But Healy says it was never about talent. It's just about a willingness to dig and nothing more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 1, 2023 • 33min
The Wood Brothers on the creative need for distraction
In nearly 20 years as frontman of The Wood Brothers, Oliver Wood has built an incredible catalog of Grammy-nominated, genre-defying music. The key to such longevity is his career-long fight to stay distracted—yes, distracted—in his creative processes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 23, 2022 • 40min
Acclaimed vocalist Liz Vice on facing death and taking risks
As a teenager, acclaimed vocalist Liz Vice lived with a severe autoimmune disease that could have killed her. On this episode, Liz tells us about the creative fears that still have a hold on her, even as her gospel/R&B fusion has made her an NPR darling and given her a considerable platform.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 8, 2022 • 28min
Broadway star Joshua Henry on listening to the right voices
Joshua Henry, fresh off his appearance in the film Tick, Tick...Boom!, is a three-time Tony nominee known for his work in Carousel, The Scottsboro Boys, Hamilton, and Waitress who also recently released his debut album, Grow. The secret to so much success? Henry says he tries to listen to "the voice before the voice" as a daily practice. Check out our latest conversation on The Resistance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 11, 2022 • 27min
Villagers (Conor O'Brien) tries to avoid the "algorithm blues"
Conor O'Brien is trying his best to avoid "the algorithm blues." As the songwriter and central figure in the Mercury Prize nominated band Villagers, Conor knows a thing or two about the wrestling required with and the shadow side of social media. As a recording artist, there's an inherent need to stay in front of listeners—to create content, to stay connected, to fan the flames of fandom. As an actual person, however, it's not the healthiest way to spend one's time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 27, 2021 • 46min
Screenwriter Tony Tost on his uncommon path toward a career in the arts
On this episode of The Resistance, screenwriter Tony Tost (Longmire, Damnation, The Terror) describes the (lack of) mental issues with writing in his career and why he believes that to be the case. He also opens up about his uncommon path toward a career in the arts and how that's given him such a different perspective on creativity and fear.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 29, 2021 • 35min
Josh Radnor on creative lessons learned from a career in the arts
Josh Radnor has found success on the screen and stage and, most recently, as a songwriter, but despite his experience and expansive platform, he still wrestles with the same basic fears, voices, and pressures that plagued him when he was first starting out. We recently spoke with Josh to hear more about his creative drive and the lessons learned in a career in the arts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 8, 2021 • 29min
Acclaimed author Natashia Deón on self-care in a demanding world
Natashia Deón wears many, many creative hats, including that of acclaimed author (for her celebrated novel, Grace). On this episode of The Resistance, Natashia speaks openly about the power of her faith to fuel her activities and what she’s learned about balance and self-care in the midst of so many demands.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


