Creative Pep Talk
Andy J. Pizza
A Weekly Podcast Companion for Your Creative Journey
- 1 hour 23 minutes540 - Why the Creative Path Has to Be Twisty and Turny with Nishant Jain
Pre-Order My New Book Mysterious Things Here
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It’s so easy to forget what this is all about. If you need a reminder to embrace imperfection as part of your flavor, and rekindle your drive to just go out and make stuff you love about things you’re interested in, this is your episode!!
Guest Nishant Jain drops a billion good gems here. We talk about his sneaky public drawing practice, his inspiring philosophy around creativity and his new book “Make Sneaky Art”.
I could have talked to Nishant for another hour or more!
This will fuel your creative tank!
SHOW NOTES:
Nishant Jain https://www.sneakyartist.com
Book: Make Sneaky Art https://www.sneakyartist.com/the-book
Kendyll Hillegas http://www.kendyllhillegas.com
Roald Dahl https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Dahl
Quentin Blake https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quentin_Blake
Sneaky Art Podcast - Hosted by Nishant Jain https://www.sneakyartist.com/podcast
Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co
Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co
Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSPONSORS:
SQUARESPACE
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALKLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
28 January 2026, 5:00 am - 38 minutes 20 seconds539 - This Super Easy Thing Will Make A Massive Impact On Your Creative Practice
Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word!
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Do you have a toxic relationship with goal setting and New Year’s resolutions? Have you already given up this year?!
If so, this episode is for you. In this episode, we will explore the easy and impactful starting place that can help you make this season count for your creative practice.
At the end, I share the “Select Your Seed” Venn diagram exercise for figuring out where to focus your energy and how to kick things off in an easy, deep, holistic way.
SHOW NOTES:
Fresh Start Psychology
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/4000-mondays/202412/fresh-starts-the-psychology-behind-new-year-motivation/ampStudy on Result Goals vs Process Goals
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1750984X.2022.2116723#abstractThe One Thing https://the1thing.com
Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co
Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co
Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSPONSORS:
SQUARESPACE
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALKAEROPRESS
Check out Aeropress and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal: https://aeropress.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
21 January 2026, 5:00 am - 1 hour 53 minutes538 - Find Your Point of View, Story Insights, and Artist / Audience Dynamics with Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen
Have you ever heard someone say that making creative work is about having a “point of view”? It sounds right, but what does it mean and how do you find yours?
I can’t think of any creatives that have a more compelling sense of their “point of view” than my guests today. Author Mac Barnett and author-illustrator Jon Klassen have such a strong voice, and I have been longing to have them both on the show for such a long time!!
This is an instant all-timer episode for me. These two legends from the picture book world just knocked it out of the park, and we have an incredible chat exploring how to find your point of view, the artist/audience relationship, storytelling, and so much more.
Buckle up. This mega episode starts off with a bang and just gets better and better all the way til the end! This episode will make for a great companion for a long creative session or long drive!
Hope you love it as much as I did!
SHOW NOTES:
Substack: "Looking at Picture Books"
https://lookingatpicturebooks.substack.com"Mac B. Spy Kid"
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=%22Mac+B.+Spy+Kid%22&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8"The Skull" by Jon Klassen
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/725351/the-skull-by-jon-klassen-illustrated-by-jon-klassen/"Sam and Dave Dig a Hole" by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
https://www.macbarnett.com/sam-dave-dig-a-hole"Extra Yarn"
https://www.macbarnett.com/extra-yarn"Where the Wild Things Are"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_the_Wild_Things_Are"Goodnight Moon"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodnight_Moon"The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Remains_of_the_Day"Swim in a Pond in the Rain" by George Saunders
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/609280/a-swim-in-a-pond-in-the-rain-by-george-saunders/"Outside Over There" by Maurice Sendak
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outside_Over_There"Sam and the Firefly" by P.D. Eastman
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_and_the_Firefly"Dead Souls" by Nikolai Gogol
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Souls"Let the Right One In"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_the_Right_One_In_(film)"Ponyo"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponyo"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Sunshine_of_the_Spotless_Mind"Mysterious Things" by Andy J. Pizza and Sophie Miller
http://invisiblethings.co"Making Comics" by Scott McCloud
https://www.scottmccloud.com/makingcomics/Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co
Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co
Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSPONSORS:
SQUARESPACE
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALKAEROPRESS
Check out Aeropress and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal: https://aeropress.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
14 January 2026, 5:00 am - 47 minutes 10 seconds537 - Reignite Creative Drive with This Energizing New Year's Exercise
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How do you get excited for the New Year when things feel so unstable? How do you get jazzed about planning and goals, when you don’t know what future you’re planning for?
In times like these, I find it more effective to tap into the creative drives you already have, than working towards a future that may or may not come to pass. Tune in to check out the 3 creative drives and figure out which you can employ today to get excited about making creative work again!
SHOW NOTES:
Mysterious Things by Andy J. Pizza and Sophie Miller
http://invisiblethings.coFour Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman
https://www.oliverburkeman.com/fourthousandweeksProducer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co
Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co
Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSPONSORS:
SQUARESPACE
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALKAEROPRESS
Check out Aeropress and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal: https://aeropress.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
7 January 2026, 5:00 am - 1 hour 14 minutes536 - Rest and Retreat as a Neurodivergent Creative with Katherine May
This is a special HOLIDAY episode featuring the chat I had on Katherine May’s Podcast “The Clearing” where guests explore their ideal real or fantasy retreat. Here’s what Katherine said about the episode:
The ADHD and autistic tendency to rest in motion is fully realised in American author and illustrator Andy J. Pizza’s vision of the ideal retreat. Choosing an extraordinary fictional setting which incorporates an ingenious method of traveling the world, this episode showcases the wonder of a brilliantly creative, neurodivergent brain.
Along the way, and with many fascinating tangents, Andy and Katherine discuss the power of Miyazaki films, their shared love of Fraggle Rock and longing for direction from the universe.
A meticulously thought out and fully realised world that accommodates his own personal experience of ADHD, Andy unveils the most beautifully zany and imaginative dreamscape. An absolute treat.
SHOW NOTES:
Last of the Summer Wine Wiki
The Master and his Emissary book about left and right brain
Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co
Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co
Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSPONSORS:
SQUARESPACE
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALKAEROPRESS
Check out Aeropress and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal: https://aeropress.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
24 December 2025, 5:00 am - 45 minutes 28 seconds535 - If You Only Listen to One Episode of this Podcast This Year Make it This One
Feeling lost on the creative journey? Download our 7 step Creative Career Path Handbooklet for FREE by signing up to our newsletter: http://andyjpizza.substack.com
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The Creative Pep Talk Top 5 BEST IDEAS from 2025.
This is a FUN BLITZ through the most essential ideas and tactics from our past year of episodes.
This was exciting and helpful for me to review, and I can’t wait for you to hear this jam packed, end of year episode!
SHOW NOTES:
502 - How to Beat the Analysis Paralysis of "The Right Path"
502 - How to Beat the Analysis Paralysis of "The Right Path"513 - Why Creatives Have to Build Habits Differently and How to Do It
513 - Why Creatives Have to Build Habits Differently and How to Do It515 - Want to Quit Social Media? 3 Essential Considerations for Any Creative Practice
515 - Want to Quit Social Media? 3 Essential Considerations for Any Creative Practice529 - Escape Your Creative Rut with This 5 Part Creative Hygiene Checklist
529 - Escape Your Creative Rut with This 5 Part Creative Hygiene Checklist532 - THIS is Your Creative Secret Weapon that You’re Ignoring
532 - THIS is Your Creative Secret Weapon that You’re IgnoringPetey USA on Rainn Wilson’s Soul Boom
Petey USA Leans Into LifeIain McGilchrist - Master and His Emissary
The Master and His EmissaryProducer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co
Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co
Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
17 December 2025, 5:00 am - 1 hour 47 minutes534 - New Fire for Sticking to the Path with Filmmaker Seth Worley
Feeling lost on the creative journey? Download our 7 step Creative Career Path Handbooklet for FREE by signing up to our newsletter: http://andyjpizza.substack.com
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This was one of my favorite chats!!!
DEEP DIVE with my friend and Filmmaker Seth Worley!
We get into:
1 - Finding the drive to stick to long creative quests, especially when you’re not sure you’re going to reach your goal!
2 - Why to make a proof of concept of your idea and put it out there!
3 - Why the path has to take a long time some times!
4 - A trick for finding your edge among your creative peers!
SHOW NOTES:
Seth Worley
https://sethworley.comProducer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co
Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co
Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSPONSORS:
SQUARESPACE
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALKAEROPRESS
Check out Aeropress and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal: https://aeropress.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
10 December 2025, 5:00 am - 1 hour 15 minutes533 - Make People Feel Things, Hope in AI Crazed World AND Create to Your Taste
Feeling lost on the creative journey? Download our 7 step Creative Career Path Handbooklet for FREE by signing up to our newsletter: http://andyjpizza.substack.com
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This is a favorite!
Special edition of ask Dr. Pizza episode! This time the questions come from the hosts of the Grupo de Autoayuda de Dibujo podcast! THE CRUSHED IT!
SHOW NOTES:
Grupo de Autoayuda de Dibujo
https://www.instagram.com/grupodeautoayudadedibujo/
https://www.youtube.com/c/GrupodeAutoayudadeDibujoProducer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co
Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co
Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSPONSORS:
SQUARESPACE
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALKAEROPRESS
Check out Aeropress and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal: https://aeropress.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
3 December 2025, 5:00 am - 34 minutes 54 seconds532 - THIS is Your Creative Secret Weapon that You’re Ignoring
Feeling lost on the creative journey? Download our 7 step Creative Career Path Handbooklet for FREE by signing up to our newsletter: http://andyjpizza.substack.com
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Who doesn’t want better opportunities?
The key is standing out and having a unique creative offering. But that is much easier said than done, when it feels like EVERYTHING has been DONE!
How do you find your edge?
I have had some client opportunities come may way recently that felt SO perfectly custom tailored for me, and it got me thinking: how did these things fall into my lap?
This episode is what I think helped me position my work in a way that attracted those “perfect fit” opportunities and I hope it helps you do the same!
SHOW NOTES:
Landmark School
https://www.landmarkschool.org“Standing out: an atypical salience account of creativity” Paper
https://www.cell.com/trends/cognitive-sciences/fulltext/S1364-6613(24)00111-6?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1364661324001116%3Fshowall%3DtrueProducer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co
Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co
Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSPONSORS:
SQUARESPACE
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALKAEROPRESS
Check out Aeropress and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal: https://aeropress.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
26 November 2025, 5:00 am - 59 minutes 20 seconds531 - Risks that Land Big Jobs, Be Your Own Client & Find Your Sound with Composer Oli Julian
Feeling lost on the creative journey? Download our 7 step Creative Career Path Handbooklet for FREE by signing up to our newsletter: http://andyjpizza.substack.com
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If you’re used to doing work for clients, it can be tough to then create your own solo project. On the other hand, if you’re only used to doing your own thing, working for a client can feel impossible!
How do you find yourself and your creative voice in the mix of all of this?
This is one of the many topics I dive into on today’s episode with Composer Oli Julian. Oli is the composer for Netflix’s new animated Roald Dahl adaptation of “The Twits”, and has a huge wealth of experience doing music for television for the likes of Sex Education and The Complete Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin.
This was a guest from a very different side of the creative industry, hope you enjoy!
SHOW NOTES:
Oli Julian
https://www.olijulian.co.ukThe Twits
https://www.netflix.com/title/81612165Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co
Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co
Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSPONSORS:
SQUARESPACE
Head to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALKAEROPRESS
Check out Aeropress and use my code PEPTALK for a great deal: https://aeropress.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
19 November 2025, 5:00 am - 1 hour 13 minutes530 - Something Simple to Do When Mental Health Derails You with Frannerd
Feeling lost on the creative journey? Download our 7 step Creative Career Path Handbooklet for FREE by signing up to our newsletter: http://andyjpizza.substack.com
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FRANNERD RETURNS! Illustrator, Comic Artist and YouTuber Fran Meneses is a long time friend of the show and it’s been 6 years since her last episode!
We dive deep into:
1 - When mental health “gets in the way” of your creative plans and what has seemed to help both of us.
2 - How to think about creative crossroads and let go of things that don’t serve where you want to go and double down on the path you do want to take.
3 - How the pandemic impacted both of our careers and shaped out creative focus moving forward.
This chat was a blast and filled me with so much hope and comfort. Hope it does the same for you!
SHOW NOTES:
Fran Meneses AKA Frannerd
https://www.frannerd.cl
https://www.instagram.com/frannerd/?hl=en
https://www.youtube.com/c/FranMeneses
https://www.patreon.com/frannerdProducer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.co
Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.co
Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
12 November 2025, 5:00 am - More Episodes? Get the App