What creative work do you feel called to do but are too afraid to try? Are you in IT but dream of doing stand-up? A PR exec who longs to write a screenplay? Did the pandemic change your priorities and you want to leave your fully funded PHD/MD program and go to New Mexico and paint? Or maybe you’re like I was in my early career, trapped in a lucrative but soul crushing corporate job when what I really wanted to do was tell stories on stage.
In Season 1 of this podcast, we’ll hear from artists who took an unexpected leap and found the courage to answer their creative call, so we can inspire you to answer yours. Each of the 10 episodes, which will drop every two weeks, will focus on one of the No Time to be Timid Manifesto principles. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or wherever you listen. And in the meantime, enjoy the episodes below. Remember, this is no time to be timid!
Episode 10: Make Art Now.
In our final episode of the season, I talk with Harris III, who shares his unexpected journey as a professional magician, storyteller, author, and the director and curator of Story Gatherings, an international conference on storytelling. We talk about misusing our imaginations, the importance of wow and how, and the lifesaving power of art.
Listen to this episode…Episode 9: There is Courage in Community.
For this episode, I delve into stand-up comedy, which seems like the loneliest of professions but actually thrives because of its strong community. And two amazing artists join me on the show — Ophira Eisenberg and Bethany Van Delft. Ophira was the host of the long-running NPR show “Ask Me Another” and just launched her new podcast, “Parenting is a Joke.” Bethany is a performer and a producer at the Boston Comedy and Women in Comedy Festivals and was named Boston’s Best Comedian several times. It’s a very funny and not to be missed episode.
Listen to this episode…Episode 8: Failure is Your Friend.
Hilary Graham is one of the hardest working artists I know and she’s learned to build failure into her writing process. Her talent and perseverance has landed her in Hollywood, where she’s worked on some of the top shows, including “Bones”and “Orange is the New Black,” and she was the show runner for the Netflix series “Social Distance.” Join us as she talks about overcoming obstacles and the challenges and rewards of writing for TV and film.
Listen to this episode…Episode 7: Constraints are Opportunities.
International award-winning puppeteer Dan Hurlin talks about starting a successful theater at age 10, how financial constraints prompted him to create a solo show where he played a cast of 60 characters, his love of toy theaters and puppets, and his new approach to puppetry.
Listen to this episode…Episode 6: Practicality is Overrated.
Award-winning visual and performance artist Rachel Perry challenges every excuse you may have for not stepping towards your creative dreams. She attended art school at 36 while raising a first grader — not the most practical time to begin an intense program of study — and her work is now exhibited in collections around the world. You are not too old and it is not too late!
Listen to this episode…