The Unbound Creative
Episodes
What It Really Means to Be Free in Your Art
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it really mean to be free as an artist?In this conversation, Mak and Valerie explore the tension between mastery and play, the discipline th...
Stop Saying This If You Want to Thrive
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve probably said this phrase hundreds of times. You’ve definitely heard it. It’s woven into how we talk about work, success, and creativity....
The Lie You Likely Believe… That’s Costing You Everything
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve likely believed this lie without even realizing it, and it’s keeping you stuck. In this episode, we’re exposing the narrative that’s be...
Delight Is Not a Luxury - It’s Your Superpower
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 10 of The UnBound Creative, Valerie and Mak celebrate their milestone by diving into a quietly radical idea: delight as a wayfinder.We live...
5 Ways to Beat Overthinking Today
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Overthinking kills creativity, and it happens faster than you realize.In this episode, we unpack how fear often disguises itself as "preparation&...
What Everyone Else Is Doing (And Why You Shouldn’t)
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re getting honest in this one.So many creatives feel stuck, not because they aren’t talented or motivated, but because they’re silently follo...
Creative Catastrophe: The Christmas Train That Broke Me
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A true story of public failure, creative heartbreak, and the unexpected path to redemption.This is the most vulnerable, raw, and unforgettable story w...
Fear of Failure: Why It’s Stopping You (and What to Do Instead)
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this emotionally rich and deeply honest episode of The UnBound Creative, Valerie and Mak explore one of the most universal experiences in creative ...
How Your Creative Skills Are Your Greatest Business Asset
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever said “I’m not a business person” because you’re creative, this episode is your wake-up call. The idea that creatives aren’t...
The Most Dangerous Lie Creatives Tell Themselves (and How to Stop)
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this fired-up, heart-on-sleeve episode, Mak and Valerie tackle one of the biggest invisible barriers creative people face: waiting for permission.W...
Why Creativity Feels Hard - And How to Make It Easier
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever wondered why something you love — creating — can feel like pulling teeth to start, this is your episode. We’re unpacking the re...
Why You Feel Stuck — And How to Finally Move Forward (For Real)
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the key to unleashing your creativity isn't found in hustling harder but in following the whispers of curiosity that most of us have been...
Unleashing Your Creative Soul: Breaking Free from Society's Boxes
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Valerie and Mak McKeehan launch their new podcast, The Unbound Creative, dedicated to helping creatives break free from societal constraints and self-...
Sell Your Artwork, Without the Stress | Part 5: The Secret Ingredient to Success
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What truly sets successful creative entrepreneurs apart? It's not just about mastering pricing or nailing your branding—it's about how you...
Sell Your Artwork, Without the Stress | Part 4: Building Your Personal Brand
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered how to craft a brand that truly embodies your authentic self? Valerie and Mak explore this vital question by examining the unique vibes...
Sell Your Artwork without the Stress | Part 3: Selling without an audience
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
“I’d love to sell my artwork, but I just don’t have a big audience or following.” This is one of the first things a lot of artists interested ...
Sell Your Artwork without the Stress | Part 2: How to Price Your Art
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most daunting aspects of being an Artpreneur is figuring out how to price your work. In this next episode of “Sell Your Work, Without the...
Sell Your Artwork without the Stress | Part 1: Where to Begin
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine viewing your art not just as a creative endeavor, but as a powerful way to enrich lives and engage in a meaningful exchange of value. In this...
Saying No to Toxic Culture for Artists
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What if the key to unlocking your creative potential lies not in the typical advice given to artists but in embracing the natural rhythms of rest and ...
The Worst Advice Given to Artists
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we still cling to the myth of the "struggling artist" when creativity can be a joyful and healing process? Join me as we challenge th...
Saying Yes to Fear
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Valerie explores two different types of fear. One type tells you you’re going in the wrong direction, but another type is actually a...
Welcome to The Peaceful Creative!
17 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Dear Creative Soul Podcast is now The Peaceful Creative! In this episode, Valerie talks about the reason behind the name change and what it means...
Being An Artist in a Heavy Dark World
24 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What is an artist to do when the world feels heavy and dark? We are often sensitive creatures and it's easy to crumble and succumb to the darkne...
What Are You Waiting For?
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There’s nothing wrong with setting goals, but what happens when you’re holding off on feeling good until you reach those goals? This leads to a c...
3 Tips for Accessing Flow State
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Flow state - that out-of-body experience where the work seems to just appear and you are the vessel. Time stands still in those moments and it feels i...
How to Have a Mindfulness Practice Through Creativity
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you the type of person who hears "enjoy the process" and it seems like a cliche? You are not alone! We hear these things and know it&ap...
We Want Your Humanity and Imperfection
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Often as creatives and artists, we think we need to put out the polished, perfect version of ourselves. If it's not perfect then we hold back and...
How to Separate Your Worth from Your Art
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The life of a creative is full of juxtapositions! One of the biggest juxtapositions is the idea of creating from a place of who you are, yet not getti...
What to do When You are Procrastinating
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Does this sound familiar? You feel inspired and have all intentions of making art. Then suddenly, you remember you have “so much to do.” You block...
Art is Energy
02 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode I'm taking you inside our exclusive Facebook group in the Magic Makers Membership! We've been working through the bo...
Talking Perfectionism and Jealousy
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We've been going through The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron in my membership, The Magic Makers. I've been going live on our Facebook com...
For The Stressed-Out Creative
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many people talk about creativity or having a creative outlet as a stress-reliever. This can certainly be true, however, what happens when your creat...
Turn the Lights Back On
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For the first time in decades, Billy Joel released new music. After listening to the single, I had so many thoughts. Thoughts about creativity, courag...
What Do You Really Want?
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Happy New Year!With a new year comes all the talk about setting goals and resolutions. There's a better way of tapping into what you desire and m...
When You Don't Have Time For Your Art
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When life gets busy, art is often the first thing to go. I wish this wasn't the case, but what I do know is that heaping on guilt is not the answ...
Chloe Minyon on Finding Creative Authenticity
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I am thrilled to be joined on the podcast today by my friend, artist, creative entrepreneur, and coach, Chloe Minyon. This candid and vulnerable conv...
That Time I Triggered People on Tik Tok
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Here is the TikTok video! https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT85hemvM/We all want to be liked and validated. That is part of being human! Especially when it co...
Change the story, change your life
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever heard the story about fleas in a jar? If you place fleas in a jar, they will jump out. If you add a lid to the jar, the fleas will try t...
It's Time to Practice Failing
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We all know the phrase "practice makes perfect," but I actually do not believe in this phrase!I think a truer statement is "practice ma...
5 Tips for When You're Feeling Discouraged
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You set out to try something new, mustering the courage that it takes to try. You silenced your inner critic enough to do it and do it badly! A huge f...
Why Your Creativity is Vital
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’ve been fired up lately. It’s about this notion that creativity is frivolous or childlike. It is NOT. Your creativity and artistic expression a...
How to Make Your Life Instantly Better
10 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today I’m sharing the one thing I believe is an instant game-changer in your life as well as your creative practice! You’ll learn the simple trick...
What To Do When Things Don’t Work Out
06 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have those instances in your life where you look back on things you wanted so badly, but they didn’t work out? Maybe you’re breathing a sig...
Work Doesn't Have To Be Hard
24 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I had a realization about burnout and overwhelm. So much of my creative journey has been spent in these states. I would read books about productivity ...
Go From Angsty to Peaceful
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The angsty artist. It’s such a cliche, but for a good reason. Materializing something from your soul is gut-wrenching and fraught with reasons for a...
You Were Made to Bloom
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I used to hear the phrase “don't play small” and think that meant chasing some grandiose dream or version of what society considers successfu...
The Only Social Media Strategy You Need
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The topic of authenticity has been chasing me it seems! It's a buzzword, I know, especially when it comes to showing up on social media. People h...
Why You Should Make Bad Art
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’ll be honest, there was a point in my career when I would hear about embracing the process, making a mess, loving the journey and I would think, “...
Why Beauty is Necessary | Part 2
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever been made to feel like the beauty you create is frivolous? I would argue it's just the opposite - that beauty is utterly necessary....
Why Beauty is Necessary | Part 1
18 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever been made to feel like the beauty you create is frivolous? I would argue it's just the opposite - that beauty is utterly necessary....
What To Do When You Feel Lost
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Did you ever hear something and you don’t know exactly why, but you knew in that moment you were meant to hear it? That happened to me recently at a...
You're Allowed to Change Your Mind
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dear Creative Soul,You’re allowed to change your mind You’re allowed to quit somethingYou’re allowed to experimentYou’re allowed to start som...
Why Your Next Mistake Could Be Your Biggest Success
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the biggest blockers to creativity is the fear of making a mistake. You probably have multiple ideas swirling through your head at any given mo...
How I'm Getting Unstuck
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes there are so many creatives directions we can take and this can leave us stuck! I’ve been feeling this way lately. In today’s episode we...
Proof That You’re a Creative Genius
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What if I told you that according to NASA scientists, you are a creative genius? It's true! I learned about the most fascinating study and it cha...
5 Reasons to Embrace Being a Beginner
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It can feel intimidating to start something new, but I would argue that being a beginner in a new creative endeavor is magical.Here’s how to embrace...
The Power of Creative Routines
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’m going to say something perhaps unexpected: I believe you need more stress in your life! BUT - the right kind of stress and in the right amount....
7 Self-Care Tips for Creatives
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The vulnerability required for being a creative can sometimes come with burnout, overwhelm, and overthinking. As beautiful as it is to create, when we...
There's Room for You
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever told yourself “Oh, everyone else is already doing that!” about a creative endeavor that you wanted to try? It’s easy to look at w...
How to Embrace Failure
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It can be a struggle to show up imperfectly and messy for a number of reasons (looking at you perfectionism and fear), but what is at the heart of the...
There's Never a Good Time to Begin
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I was sitting down to the mic fearful and feeling all the usual doubts spinning through my mind…“What if I sound dumb?” “I’m not good enoug...
Dear Creative Soul - Trailer
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dear Creative Soul is a podcast for creatives, artists, and the creatively curious. Walking a creative path takes a great amount of courage and it can...