Best Valerie McKeehan Podcasts (2024)

1
How to Separate Your Worth from Your Art 32:09

2d ago32:09

32:09

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 getting your identity so wrapped up in it that it debilitates you. When you can release the pressure of your worth being tied to what you create, a whole new world of healing and beauty opens up. In this e…

1
What to do When You are Procrastinating 24:33

11d ago24:33

24:33

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 creating and chalk it up to not having enough time. I don’t believe that’s the real reason. It’s actually fear. In this episode, we explore how to tackle this issue of procrastination and discomfort head…

1
Art is Energy 1:05:07

28d ago1:05:07

1:05:07

In today's episode I'm taking you inside our exclusive Facebook group in the Magic Makers Membership! We've been working through the book, The Creative Act by Rick Rubin. Every Friday, I've been going live to discuss portions of the book and it has been SO GOOD. I had to share this discussion with you! I talk about.. how art is energy why creating …

1
Talking Perfectionism and Jealousy 59:08

3M ago59:08

59:08

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 community each week to discuss each chapter of the 12-week journey. It has been incredible! This episode includes the audio from one of the Facebook lives. It covers Week 7 in the Artist's Way and we talk a lot about o…

1
For The Stressed-Out Creative 30:27

5M ago30:27

30:27

Many people talk about creativity or having a creative outlet as a stress-reliever. This can certainly be true, however, what happens when your creativity does just the opposite? When you're stressed out about creating art and your body is sent into flight or fight mode? It's something I think we need to talk about more. In this case, creativity be…

1
Turn the Lights Back On 56:12

5M ago56:12

56:12

For the first time in decades, Billy Joel released new music. After listening to the single, I had so many thoughts. Thoughts about creativity, courage, pressure, and succumbing to the praise of others. I asked Mak to join me again on the podcast to have this spontaneous conversation! We talk about the universal fear of creatives, how to decipher y…

1
What Do You Really Want? 25:48

6M ago25:48

25:48

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 making it happen. It all boils down to the question: how do you want to FEEL? In this episode, we talk about letting yourself dream, how to discover what it is you really want, a new way to create a vision…

1
When You Don't Have Time For Your Art 16:06

6M ago16:06

16:06

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 answer! In this episode, I'm sharing a pep talk I recorded for those in my membership community. You'll find encouragement for when you're feeling frustrated and disconnected from your art, especially now as w…

1
Chloe Minyon on Finding Creative Authenticity 1:09:53

7M ago1:09:53

1:09:53

I am thrilled to be joined on the podcast today by my friend, artist, creative entrepreneur, and coach, Chloe Minyon. This candid and vulnerable conversation was part of a live virtual retreat held for members of my Magic Makers Membership! We discuss creative authenticity, how there's always more going on behind the scenes of creative businesses, …

1
That Time I Triggered People on Tik Tok 32:45

7M ago32:45

32:45

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 comes to something vulnerable like our art. But, the fact is, not everyone is going to like you. This is not only okay, it is normal. Not everyone is going to like you, but you don't like everyone! Som…

1
Change the story, change your life 20:15

8M ago20:15

20:15

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 to escape at first, but eventually, they will stop trying. Even when the lid is removed, the fleas will still stay in the jar. They were trained to stay there. How often are we like the fleas? Perhaps …

1
It's Time to Practice Failing 23:36

8M ago23:36

23:36

We all know the phrase "practice makes perfect," but I actually do not believe in this phrase! I think a truer statement is "practice makes familiarity." When you practice something, it becomes familiar. When something becomes familiar, then your brain registers it as safe. Your brain has a funny way of taking the path of least resistance. The same…

1
5 Tips for When You're Feeling Discouraged 29:17

9M ago29:17

29:17

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 first step! But then, the weeks march on, the progress seems slower than expected. You feel the frustration and familiar feelings of self doubt and fear coming back to haunt you. Discouragement sets in…

1
Why Your Creativity is Vital 21:22

11M ago21:22

21:22

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 are vital. The world needs who you are when you are your lit-up, authentic self. In this episode: The Way of Integrity by Martha Beck Join me for my next round of The Magic of Soft Pastel, a 6-Week LIVE onl…

1
How to Make Your Life Instantly Better 15:05

12M ago15:05

15:05

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 that will make a difference in how you feel and elevate the mundane, day-to-day. Because here's the thing: MOST of your life will be lived in the mundane moments. We have highs and lows sprinkled in betw…

1
What To Do When Things Don’t Work Out 24:56

12M ago24:56

24:56

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 sigh of relief (like me)! There are many times I’m grateful circumstances didn’t go the way I thought I wanted them to. But hindsight is 20/20. How do we let go of expectations and the desire to force the ou…

1
Work Doesn't Have To Be Hard 15:02

1y ago15:02

15:02

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 and time hacks. Tell myself I need better routines and to get up earlier in the morning. But the truth was, it wasn't that I wasn't productive, I was misaligned. It wasn't an issue with time, it was a…

1
Go From Angsty to Peaceful 31:20

1y ago31:20

31:20

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 angst. But, it doesn’t have to be that way! I want you to be able to create from a higher place of joy and peace! I believe there are two main blockers that if left unchecked, will keep you in a place of…

1
You Were Made to Bloom 14:31

1y ago14:31

14:31

I used to hear the phrase “don't play small” and think that meant chasing some grandiose dream or version of what society considers successful. But I've come to realize that playing small is actually what happens when you hold yourself back or tamp down who you really are. This can happen for many reasons: perfectionism, fear of being seen, needing…

1
The Only Social Media Strategy You Need 35:10

1y ago35:10

35:10

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 have different versions of authentic, debating Instagram vs. Tiktok, filters vs. not, but authenticity can’t be tangibly defined. It can’t be quantified and bottled up. It is felt. There’s an energy that wi…

1
Why You Should Make Bad Art 32:00

1y ago32:00

32:00

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, “Yeah right. Who has time for that?” I had deadlines piling up; I was stressed and burnout. Do you struggle with embracing the process? This episode is for you. We are addicted to the idea of a successfu…

1
Why Beauty is Necessary | Part 2 41:14

1y ago41:14

41:14

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. Your beauty is necessary. My husband, Mak, joins me again this week as it turns out we had so much more we wanted to say about this topic! We talk about the importance of finding what lights you up, regar…

1
Why Beauty is Necessary | Part 1 35:43

1y ago35:43

35:43

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. Your beauty is necessary. Beauty makes life worth living. It makes us feel alive! Sustenance for the soul. The world can never ever have too much beauty. It won't run out of space. We would never feel lik…

1
What To Do When You Feel Lost 29:19

1y ago29:19

29:19

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 an unexpected moment. The tears instantly came. It was an invitation back to myself after going through a period of feeling lost. When you feel like you’ve lost yourself, I believe it’s often because you…

1
You're Allowed to Change Your Mind 22:44

1y ago22:44

22:44

Dear Creative Soul, You’re allowed to change your mind You’re allowed to quit something You’re allowed to experiment You’re allowed to start something new. There are no rules! Giving the world the gift of your honest, authentic self is worth pushing past the made up rules and limitations we put on ourselves. In case you felt like you needed permiss…

1
Why Your Next Mistake Could Be Your Biggest Success 24:00

1+ y ago24:00

24:00

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 moment, but maybe you're feeling afraid to choose the “wrong” one and move forward. Or maybe you feel intimidated to create, worrying that the end result won’t be what you had envisioned. For 12+ years …

1
How I'm Getting Unstuck 12:29

1+ y ago12:29

12:29

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’ll talk about the simple mindset shifts to get unstuck and things we can tell ourselves to bring more fun into the process! Follow along on Instagram @valeriemckeehan and at valeriemckeehan.com…

1
Proof That You’re a Creative Genius 29:39

1+ y ago29:39

29:39

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 changes everything - especially how we see ourselves. After conducting a study of 1600 4 and 5-year olds, scientists found that 98 percent scored at "creative genius" level. 98 percent! But just ten years lat…

1
5 Reasons to Embrace Being a Beginner 15:22

1+ y ago15:22

15:22

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 those awkward, messy stages and have the courage to try. You never know what joy is waiting on the other side!By Valerie McKeehan

1
The Power of Creative Routines 27:23

1+ y ago27:23

27:23

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. With too much stress, we can face overwhelm and burnout, but with not enough, we also experience low emotions of purposelessness and lack of energy. We live in a rhythmic and cyclical universe - think a…

1
7 Self-Care Tips for Creatives 24:47

1+ y ago24:47

24:47

The vulnerability required for being a creative can sometimes come with burnout, overwhelm, and overthinking. As beautiful as it is to create, when we’re in constant output mode without inputting into ourselves, it can lead to blocks and frustration. I love the quote by Anton Chekhov, “if you want to work on your art, work on your life.” In today’s…

1
There's Room for You 26:44

1+ y ago26:44

26:44

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 what everyone else is doing and feel overwhelmed. We fear the world may not need our participation, but I can tell you with confidence that this is a trap and completely untrue! We are both similar and connec…

1
How to Embrace Failure 29:40

1+ y ago29:40

29:40

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 issue? I believe we are afraid to fail. What if I told you that failure isn’t the worst thing that can happen? Not even close! In fact, it’s something to be embraced and even welcomed. Failure means …

1
There's Never a Good Time to Begin 26:18

1+ y ago26:18

26:18

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 enough.” “Maybe this was a bad idea.” But then it occurred to me, I’ve been saying things like this to myself for years and the only thing staying comfortable led to was feeling stuck! Maybe you’re feeling stuck too…

1
Dear Creative Soul - Trailer 2:46

1+ y ago2:46

2:46

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 sometimes feel lonely. It’s easy to get caught in comparison, fear, and lose yourself along the way. Each episode is like a love letter to your heart, filled with honest stories and gentle encouragem…

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Valerie McKeehan Podcasts

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