Artists for Joy
Episodes
Musical Meditation: Loving-kindness
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, a loving-kindness meditation to some music by Franz Schubert. As you listen to each selection, repeat the mantras: "May I be wel...
How can we go on?
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the show, Merideth answers a question we all tend to ask when the world is on fire. How can I feel creative joy in the face of violence, ...
Musical Meditation for Inspiration
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, a Musical Meditation for Inspiration featuring music of Chopin performed by Emile Pandolfi, Gleb Ivanov, and Yuval Vilner. S...
Inspiration
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Season 4 opener! Let's discuss the ephemeral, mystical, inevitable miracle that is creative inspiration. Merideth shares about a hobby she is not mone...
Mini Joys: Q & A
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode of Artists for Joy is one of our Mini-Joys episodes, and in this one, Merideth answers alllll the listener questions. From creative ro...
Mini-Joys: Perfectionism + a Special Surprise
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today on the podcast, Merideth shares a central thing she's been learning on her journey back to joy for music. Plus, she has some exciting personal n...
Mini-Joys: Time Management
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, a new bonus episode series: Mini-Joys. Got 10 minutes? Listen for three questions to ask yourself if you're struggling with ...
9. Artist as Peacemaker
08 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today on the podcast: our final Creative Archetype….Enneagram 9s. Teachers call this type The Peacemaker. Merideth chats with author and editor Arie...
8. The Beauty of Challenge
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the penultimate installment of our Creative Archetypes Series, we chat with Enneagram 8s. Authors Shannan Martin and Meredith Boggs, as well as hor...
7. The Joyful Enthusiast
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode of Artists for Joy, we talk creative joy with some of our favorite Enneagram 7s. Christa Hardin, marriage counselor and author,...
6. Finding Creative Courage
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, the Creative Archetype series continues with Enneagram 6: The Loyalist. We chat with writer Cheri Hudspith, visual artist L....
5. The Castle of the Mind
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of our Creative Archetypes Series, Merideth chats with Enneagram 5s about their internal experience as artists. Guests Marsha Crockett...
4. A Heart with a Mic
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, the Creative Archetype Series continues with Enneagram 4. Merideth chats with Lee Fields of Enneagrammatic about life as a 4...
3. The Search for Self-Worth
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week in the Creative Archetypes Series, we hear from Enneagram 3s. Merideth chats with Ashley Hall-Tighe, trumpet player and certified life coach...
2. The Soul of the Helper with Holly Oxhandler
21 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our Creative Archetypes Series continues this week with Enneagram 2's "The Helper." Merideth chats with author Holly Oxhandler. Holly is the Associate...
1. Embracing Imperfection with Kendra Adachi
14 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Perfectionism can keep us from starting altogether, stop us mid-art, and suck the joy out of the finished creative project. Can you relate? This wee...
Creative Archetypes: Intro- All Types Creative
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Without further ado, our summer Enneagram series begins now! Merideth chats with enneagram coach Lee Fields (the impetus for this entire series) about...
Throwback: Belonging
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Merideth takes us back to Episode 11 in Season 1! Enjoy the throwback to a baby podcaster exploring an ever-green topic: belonging. Origi...
Meet an artist who: takes up space
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kate Shepherd is an artist, silversmith, writer, and host of the popular podcast, The Creative Genius Podcast. From Kate's artist's statement: "I am...
Taking Up Creative Space
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We know by now that the items we don't need affect our creative impulse, but what about the items we do? This week on the podcast, we explore the topi...
Musical Meditation: Create-in-the-Crack Hacks
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, a musical meditation to help you take the time you have to create with joy. Merideth walks you through three coaching questi...
Creative Lies: "It's All or Nothing."
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Merideth debunks a common creative conundrum this week: "it's all or nothing." She shares what she is learning, creating in the cracks during her own ...
Musical Meditation: Tough Skin, Tender Heart
26 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Self-Coaching Questions: Consider the big and small avenues in your life for rejection and reflect on what boundaries you may need to set. What pa...
Tough and Tender: Bouncing Back from Rejection
19 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, Merideth shares what professional musician life and pending published authorship are teaching her about rejection. Late auth...
Musical Meditation: Facing Creative Fears
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, some coaching questions and beautiful music for your earbuds. Explore these questions and reflect in your journal or with a ...
Fear
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The most requested topic ever is the theme of this week's show: FEAR. How do we overcome it? Take action despite it? Merideth names the number one thi...
BONUS: Finishing with Grace--Curtain Call Q's IRL + Musical Meditation
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, a bonus coaching conversation + musical meditation with harpist, Grace Browning of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Gra...
Curtain Call: How to Finish with Joy
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, Merideth returns with what she's been learning while attempting to finish a manuscript. She'll offer you a set of "Curtain C...
The Artist's Oath Series, No. 6: David Westerlund
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our final episode of this round of The Artist's Oath Interview Series, Merideth chats with improvisor, facilitator, and leadership coach David West...
The Artist's Oath Series: No. 5, Karen Rege
31 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the penultimate installment of our interview series, Merideth chats with jazz pianist and photographer Karen Rege. Merideth and Karen discuss acade...
The Artist's Oath Series: No. 4, David James
24 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Merideth chats with upright and electric bassist, author, and software engineer, David James. As a multi-genre freelance musician around th...
The Artist's Oath Series: No. 3, Joshua Long
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Merideth chats with a coaching client, musician Joshua Long. Josh is a songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist with a passion for c...
The Artist's Oath Series: No. 2, Sara McMahon
10 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, Merideth chats with Sara McMahon. Sara is a classically trained actress with tendencies to fly by the seat of her pants. S...
The Artist's Oath Series, No. 1
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, we begin a new series featuring the topic of one of our most downloaded episodes from Season 2: The Artist's Oath. What is y...
Listen to this when you need courage
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Self-Coaching Questions: 1. Name your "why." What do you most dream of doing? What do you want your life to be like? How can your greatest gifts meet ...
Courage
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do we cultivate more courage? Why is it an essential attribute for the artist? How do we become more assertive and brave in the face of hard thing...
Listen to this when you feel shame
10 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, a creative pep talk for when you feel shame. Find a quiet place and some earbuds. Listen as you reflect + cultivate self-com...
Shame-resilience
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, the final installment of the words-of-the-year series. Merideth explores how shame affects artists specifically and lays out...
Listen to this when you feel blocked
27 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Self-coaching questions to work with your resistance: When you look at the distance between who you are today and your dreams or goals, what would it...
Resonance & Resistance
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, the second of our three-part words of the year series: resonance & resistance. Merideth explores an exciting reason why reso...
Listen to this when you need to slow down
13 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Musical meditation BONUS, featuring music of Debussy and Brahms played by Marnie Laird of Brooklyn Classical. Self-Coaching Questions: What is th...
Harmony vs. Hustle
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Any other artists out there tired of thinking/talking/obsessing about marketing? This week, Merideth shares the first of a three-part series based on ...
Your word(s) of the year
30 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, Merideth leads you through the process to find your own word(s) of the year. Grab your journal and earbuds and explore the p...
Listen to this when you need joy
23 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast Merideth offers a musical meditation for when you need joy. Listen for the coaching prompts and use your journal to explore e...
All I want for Christmas is joy (and a book deal)
16 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week in our annual holiday episode, Merideth discusses the waiting and wanting stage of the creative life, how she's managing the hurry-up-and-...
Listen to this when you feel burnt out
09 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's bonus self-coaching episode, consider the following as you listen: 1. What are your expectations for your work, your family, your cre...
Burnout
02 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, a frequently requested topic: burnout. What is it? How do you keep it from happening? And how do you bounce back? Merideth s...
Bonus: Guided Gratitude Meditation
23 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Being a joyful artist means cultivating an attitude of gratitude. What art or artist(s) are you most grateful for? Merideth shares a brief gratitude m...
How to Create Scared
18 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brené Brown said, "Unused creativity is not benign. It metastasizes. It turns into grief, rage, judgment, sorrow, shame." How is that for a mic drop?...
Musical Meditation: Daydreaming is Productive
11 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Some questions for daydreaming.... What do you need? What do you want? What do you dream of experiencing, being, doing, having? Share your thought...
How to manage your time (without losing your joy)
04 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast Merideth shares some tips and tricks for how to best manage your creative time. (Spoiler alert: the first step is to stop usi...
Meet an artist who: knows how to celebrate
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Ariel K. Curry: a book coach, editor, writer, and pianist who helps creatives cultivate self-efficacy. Ariel discusses how she learned to celebra...
Listen to this when you need a mindset shift
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Self-coaching questions: How are you benefiting from *not* celebrating? What is your current mindset and how is it serving you? What benefits could...
How to celebrate
14 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Why is it so much easier to celebrate the accomplishments of others than it is our own? Merideth shares two things she is forcing herself to celebrate...
Musical Meditation: Inner Team Huddle
07 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, Merideth offers a musical meditation with some reflection questions around the idea of an Inner Team from Episode 2 in Seaso...
How to be you
30 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Whatever you are feeling about fall, bring it on over to this "the podcast equivalent of a fire pit" and we'll talk it out. This week Merideth shares ...
Listen to this when you take it personally
23 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Self-coaching Questions: 1. What is my base-line stress level like? 2. In the face of this upsetting thing I am taking personally, what am I afraid th...
How to talk to creative people
16 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Season 3 debut! Merideth shares what she's been learning from chatting with artists of all disciplines on social media and in her coaching practice: s...
Joy After Juilliard: for arts educators and learners
09 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
BONUS: This week features a talk Merideth gave recently for a fine arts department at a university in her area. Listen for 3 tips on how to stay joyfu...
Listen to this when you're stressed
26 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week in bonus content land, Merideth leads you through a breathing exercise called the physiological sigh. Listen when you are stressed to activa...
Stress
19 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What effect does stress have on our creative lives? Can stress be good? Merideth shares what she's been learning about how to manage the biological re...
Musical Meditation: The Joy Toolkit
12 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Self coaching questions: Hearing- What's that one song that makes your heart flutter with joy every time you hear it? What band makes you do a fis...
The Joy Toolkit
05 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week's show was recorded live in Brooklyn, NY! Merideth shares an idea picked up at this year's Writer's Digest Conference, a practical step in c...
Listen to this when you name your season
29 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode features some listener mail about last week's episode and provides you with some questions to help you name your season. 1. What do yo...
Creating in Your Season
22 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Besides summer (for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere), what season are you creating in? Merideth explores how naming and claiming your season of...
Listen to this when you face criticism
15 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
NEW bonus content featuring a guided visualization for self-protection (inspired by Nicholas Daniel and Louise Hay) with music of Ardie Son and Angela...
Meet an Artist Who: Teaches with Joy
08 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast Merideth interviews a mentor and teacher, oboist Nicholas Daniel. They discuss how to become impervious to harmful feedback, ...
Musical Meditation: Rejection
01 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Self-Coaching Questions What does crying look like for you? What helps you feel emotional release? What truths do you know that you can use to coach ...
The 3 C's of Bouncing Back from Rejection
24 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
An episode featuring the most requested topic Merideth receives. Listen to learn more about how to cultivate resilience and shift your mindset so you ...
Musical Meditation: The Show Must Go On + An Exercise
17 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today's musical meditation features a powerful exercise for putting down your heavy load. Sometimes the show mustn't go on: here's to normalizing this...
Creative Lies: The Show Must Go On
10 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today's creative lie is the ever popular "the show must go on" mentality. Merideth explores how this way of thinking is not always beneficial or artis...
Musical Meditation: Toxic Teachers
03 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Self-Coaching Questions: What obstacles are in the way of you finding a therapist? If you are in therapy, consider how that relationship is serving...
Toxic Teachers
27 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week Merideth explores how our teachers affect our creative development. She'll offer practical take aways for how to rebound and heal from these...
Musical Meditation: How to Love Yourself
20 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Self Coaching Questions: https://bit.ly/3wKDTTQ More about today's musicians: https://artistsforjoy.org/pod
How to Love Yourself
13 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Merideth offers three practical take-aways for how to love your artist-self well. Ann Patchett Essay: https://amzn.to/3wmDoPv Join the Coaching Cour...
Musical Meditation: Creative Pep Talk
06 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Self-Coaching Questions: What action do you need to take this week to find more confidence? Who can you invite into your process by sharing your e...
Creative Pep Talk
29 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In celebration of 2 years of podcasting, Merideth reflects on 3 things she's been learning from that practice. Listen to this if you're feeling stuck ...
Musical Meditation: Who do you create for?
15 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Who are some of "the ones" you have created for in the past? Spend time being grateful for each of them. Now flip it— think of someone you hav...
Who do you create for?
08 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How you answer this question may be the key overcoming feelings of discouragement or burn out. I don't know who needs to hear this, but this is for yo...
Musical Meditation: The Artist's Oath
01 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Reflection Questions: 1. What are some of the challenges that you face in your creative life? How is your current lens serving you? 2. How do want to ...
Shifting the Lens: The Artist's Oath
25 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever considered the code of conduct that's in play in your creative life? Have you ever taken the time to name and claim the ways you want to...
Musical Meditation: Your Inner Artist Child
18 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Reflection questions: What are 5 things you love about yourself as a child? What stories does your inner child believe about your creative life? (...
Reparenting the Inner Artist Child
11 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Inner Child is an artist. Merideth shares some truths she is learning about parenting and how it speaks deeply to that internal struggle toward he...
Meet an Artist Who: Is Who He Is
04 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week Merideth interviews someone who makes her inner artist child jump for joy. Pianist Emile Pandolfi's music has been streamed half a billion t...
Musical Meditation: Creative Wounds
25 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Reflection Questions: Who is it safe to remove my bandages with? Healing takes a lot of energy. What can I say no to or cut back on that would all...
Creative Wounds
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast: creative wounds—the tender spots where we have been hurt or disappointed creatively and how we can heal them. Merideth sha...
Musical Meditation: Give Yourself Permission
11 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As you listen and reflect this week, consider: 1. What obstacles stand in the way between you and creative permission? 2. What sounds fun at this m...
Give Yourself Permission
04 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What if your best creative life was just a permission slip away? In celebration of Mozart's birthday, Merideth shares her true feelings about one of ...
Musical Meditation: Worthiness
28 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Second installment of our new series, featuring music of Claude Debussy. 1. "Pagodas" from Estampes, L. 100 performed by Jani Parsons 2. "Clair de L...
Worthiness
21 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week–worthiness. Merideth shares what she learned from having the same conversation twice in one week with two different friends. She'll also a...
Musical Meditation: How to Change
14 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week we begin a new series entitled Musical Meditations. Every other week, while Merideth works on the book, she'll share an episode that puts th...
Episode 2.14: How to Change
07 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
New year…but are you feeling new? This week, Merideth shares a story of a coaching client who gets unblocked. Plus she'll offer one way of viewing a...
Episode 2.13: Holiday Pep-Talk
24 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, a little holiday pep talk—I'll offer you some spiritual practices to try on your own or with others during this season. Ma...
Episode 2.12: Jealousy
17 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast….jealousy. Merideth offers a potent question to ask when you're struggling with comparative thinking. Plus an answer to a...
Episode 2.11: Embodiment, What I Learned from COVID Quarantine
10 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Fresh out of quarantine, I'm offering some thoughts on embodiment. I'll give you 3 spiritual take-aways I garnered from the COVID experience at our ho...
Bonus Content: Gratitude Meditation
26 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Being a joyful artist means cultivating an attitude of gratitude. What art or artist(s) are you most grateful for? Merideth shares a brief gratitude m...
Episode 2.10: Process
19 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Process: naming, working, trusting it….is this week's focus. When we take a moment to examine the roller coaster that the creative process can be, w...
Episode 2.9: Energy
05 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today's show: energy. What the research says about the most important resource for productivity… and no, it isn't time. Creative energy doesn't c...
Episode 2.8: Devotion
29 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On today's show, devotion... or practice as a spiritual practice. How the discipline of daily artistic fundamental practice can connect us to somethin...
Episode 2.7: Creative Block, Part 2--The Instrument Is You
22 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, a long awaited update to the Creative Block series from Season 1. Merideth shares something she learned about creative block...