Category Archives: How to Start (anything)

049: Change, Connection, Magic and the Death Card

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“A lot of times we start things… we set a big goal, we create a big vision for ourselves, and we announce it on Facebook… and then somewhere along the way, it gets difficult, we meet with that resistance, we start falling short…” ~Andrea Klunder

It’s the murky, muddy middle…

Our theme for the upcoming month is all about working with Coaches to help navigate resistance to change. In this episode, hear what I’m feeling resistance around these days and get the scoop on what I WANT to do next.

“The Death card represents an opportunity — a strong call toward transformation, setting something aside, letting it go and moving into something new even if it feels scary, even if it feels uncertain.” ~Andrea Klunder

Connect with Andrea…

Facebook
Instagram
Chicago Women’s Creative Collective

Resources & Links…

The Creative Impostor Magic page!
Get a special gift from me here.

PodcastEnvy.com – How can I support YOU in creating your own podcast?

October 29th Create Your Own Podcast workshop in Chicago

Send me questions for my student producers for Power Your Story podcast via email or voicemail.

Upcoming Guests:

Katy Flatau, Mindful-U 

Nikki Ricks, Gab Lab

Tonya Gonzalez, Tarot Life Coach

“This feels like a very full spectrum chakra experience that I’ve lined up without even realizing it.” ~Andrea Klunder

Feel Good Effect, (my client Robyn’s podcast!) episode with Jon Acuff

Charlotte Elea’s Sacred Sojourner Space on Facebook (for tarot)

The Creative Impostor episode on Resistance

“Resistance — you know that feeling, when you know what to do… but you just canNOT find the internal motivation to do it.” ~Andrea Klunder

Support the Show…

Andrea’s Patreon Page — check it out and stay tuned for new PLAYFUL creativity making opportunities with me!!!

Free Audio Book & 30 day trial membership with Audible.com (support The Creative Impostor when you sign up!)

“Do we ever really finish anything?” ~Andrea Klunder

This episode was mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz of Mondo Machine.
The Creative Impostor theme music was created by JoVia Armstrong.

I’d LOVE to hear from you!

If you’re listening in Apple Podcasts, PLEASE subscribe and leave a review. It’s how Apple decides which shows people find when they are searching for specific topics like this one.

042: Come over and play

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“There’s a very blurry line between making art and working when your art is your life and your passion is your art and your art becomes your business and your business is work… it’s a tricky cycle.” ~Andrea Klunder

Self-promotion & Play like Oil & Water? Maybe not…

When I was a kid, the other kids on the block would get frustrated because rather than just riding bikes together, I always wanted to creates some structure and do things like make them play traffic cop.

Not a lot has changed, in that even as an adult, I have a tendency to turn my creative passions into hard work.

But what happens when forces in your life, your community, your clients, and even your tarot cards conspire to get you out of your rut and just play?

Find out…

“At first I was like, “ugh, I have so much work to do this weekend, I don’t have time to screw around in the forest preserve, shooting slow motion video for what purpose I have no idea.”” ~Andrea Klunder

Resources & Links…

The Creative Impostor Magic page! Get a special gift from Andrea here.

Interview with Bree Noble on music, business and self-promotion, Episode 041

Interview with Jennifer Briney on Congressional Dish, Patreon, and asking for money from your listeners, Episode 039

Interview with Ruth Humphreys on storytelling, your inner child and play, Episode 043 coming soon!

Sean Johnson & the Wild Lotus Band – my muses for movement, music & myth

The Bhakti Caravan – the band I sing with

Support the Show…

Andrea’s Patreon Page — check it out and stay tuned for new PLAYFUL creativity making opportunities with me!!!

Free Audio Book & 30 day trial membership with Audible.com (support The Creative Impostor when you sign up!)

“And I thought to myself yes these women totally get it. This is what podcasting CAN be all about — an extension of your creative expression and art to be able to reach new audiences and build community around that creative spark — and invitation for others to come over and play with you.” ~Andrea Klunder

This episode was mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz of Mondo Machine.
The Creative Impostor theme music was created by JoVia Armstrong.

I’d LOVE to hear from you!

If you’re listening in Apple Podcasts, PLEASE subscribe and leave a review. It’s how Apple decides which shows people find when they are searching for specific topics like this one.

038: Revisit Nikki Nigl: Make a list

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“There is no wrong answer. The right answer is YOUR answer… It goes back to listening… it’s not just about listening with your ears, but listening with your heart.” ~Nikki Nigl

The power of podcasting, the potential of social media…

If you have been listening to The Creative Impostor from day 1 (sometime in 2015), then:

a) YOU ARE MY HERO!!! HUZZAH!!!!! Seriously, thank you, and…

b) you have heard a version of this episode before (episode #2 with Nikki Nigl) and can skip directly to thecreativeimpostor.com/magic where you can get started on my How to Start (anything) audio course to help you start whatever creative project or endeavor you need help starting or re-starting if you’ve gotten stuck.

Make sense?

Just do it!

And if you have never listened to my interview with Nikki Nigl in episode 2, or if you can’t remember the brilliant words of wisdom from the lips of this dynamic, women’s empowHERment coach, then tune in! I have re-edited our conversation to include the MOST relevant, most engaging, most entertaining bits of our talk.

And I have to say it’s pretty interesting to go back and listen to one of my early interviews and see how much EVERYTHING has changed and grown and improved about the way I interview and the way I edit.

Back then, I really had no idea what I was doing and I felt like a total impostor when I interviewed Nikki b/c actually we had never even met in real life. I had been cyberstalking her (in the most benevolent way) b/c I caught sight of this event series that she produces called About Women through mutual Facebook friends.

See Facebook IS good for some things!

And to my surprise and delight, she agreed to do an interview with me even though I had not yet launched the podcast and she had no idea who on earth I was.

Thanks for taking a leap of faith, Nikki!

Since that time in 2015, I have attended many of her About Women events, spoken at at LEAST four of them, used her Question of the Day in her Facebook group as a journal/self-study prompt I have no idea how often, have marched for women’s solidarity in Washington DC with her and I’m sure in another 2 year’s time, I will be able to add many more connections and interactions with Nikki to this list.

I want to say that this is the power of podcasting, the potential of social media — to create community in new and unexpected ways.

And this is what The Creative Impostor has been becoming!

I want to extend that same opportunity to you.

Listen to Nikki’s story about how she has started so many things (including About Women) by concentrating on the “what” rather than the how… which is the inspiration for step one of the How to Start (anything) audio course.

Then get the course, listen to step one, make a big old list of EVERYTHING you want to do or create in work or in life, and then share it with us in The Creative Impostor FB group, and who knows what new connections, collaborations, business, and creative works will come to be as a result.

We begin by discussing what Nikki does in her “real job “ as a women’s empowHERment coach. And yes, she DOES get paid for this… you’ll see when you listen to her interview.
 

Connect with Nikki…

Website
Facebook
Facebook Group
Instagram
YouTube

Resources & Links…

The Creative Impostor Magic page! Get a special gift from Andrea here.

Charlotte Elea’s Exclusive Daily Tarot Package for The Creative Impostor Community! – Includes e-course, your own tarot deck in the mail AND a 30min intuitive session with Charlotte. Get the details & sign up here by June 7th!!!

Support the Show…

Andrea’s Patreon Page — where you can support the show, get cool gifts from me and can become an active participant in the creative community!

Free Audio Book & 30 day trial membership with Audible.com (support The Creative Impostor when you sign up!)

 

Nikki Nigl (rhymes with eagle) has lived coast to coast, drawing inspiration and following her own simple credo, “to enjoy life to the fullest,” and aspires to help others do the same.

Possessed by her Midwest sensibility, West Coast calm and East Coast edge, Nikki has dedicated her life to motivating the masses with a no-nonsense but understanding approach. She’s qualified as a Public Speaking Instructor, Accountability Coach, Relationship Guru, Female EmpowHERment Coach (via public speaking), Life Manager, Weight-loss Coach, and overall cheerleader. Nikki says simply: “I will make your life better and easier.” And probably more fun.

Her list of accomplishments include talking Catwoman down from a ledge, showing Morticia Addams the bright side of things, and fielding calls from June Cleaver — Nikki’s the reason Bridget Jones even has a diary! (Now if she could only get Hello Kitty to smile.)

Loyal believer, role model, friend, artist, teacher, and always a student, Nikki is also a rarity and a treasure — and wants you to know that you are too.

Nikki’s Education/Experience

  • Bachelor of Arts in Adult Training and Development from Northeastern Illinois University
  • Master of Arts in Communication, Media, and Theatre from Northeastern Illinois University
  • FoundHER/ CEO/ProduceHER/Host of ABOUT WOMEN series
  • Adjunct Professor at Northeastern Illinois University
  • Adult Education Assistant at Chicago Botanic Gardens
  • Emcee/host for TEDxNEIU 2014
  • TEDxNEIU Speaker 2015 (The ABCs of How Women Are Socialized)
  • Public Speaking Skills coach for TED Talk speakers
  • Coach for Dale Carnegie Training, focus on human relation skills
  • Weight-loss coach for Weight Watchers

www.NikkiNigl.com

This episode was mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz of Mondo Machine.
The Creative Impostor theme music was created by JoVia Armstrong.

I’d LOVE to hear from you!

If you’re listening in Apple Podcasts, PLEASE subscribe and leave a review. It’s how Apple decides which shows people find when they are searching for specific topics like this one.

037: Permission to stop

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“I keep thinking I need to do more– That I need more clients. That I’m going to run out of money. That I need to keep pushing forward until I make it to… where exactly?” ~Andrea Klunder

Letting go of busy…

It has been a BUSY month filled with transitions and new things. 

Of course I knew it would be because our theme for the last few weeks both in The Creative Impostor Facebook Group and in the Chicago Women’s Creative Collective has been Creative Woo-Woo: mystical practices for your creative workflow

I’ve interviewed Intuitive Counselor and Self-Discovery Coach Charlotte Elea about tarot and oracle cards for developing your intuition and Spiritual Embodiment Teacher Monica Martin about using your body’s felt-sense to guide your decision making.

AND I’ve done informal live video interviews with both of them in TheCreative Impostor FB group AND with Naturopath & Holistic Healer Samantha Mant (who will be on the podcast in the coming months) on coordinating your creative cycles with the moon and with feminine cycle. 

Put all of these experiences together with the tarot readings I’ve been incorporating into my almost-daily meditation practice AND some very practical DEEP coaching I’ve been doing with the luminous podcasting guru Elsie Escobar as part of her new e-league mentoring program and…. whew!

“I’m getting all intuitive, introspective, one with the universe, aligned in my purpose – flow – flow – flow all OVER THE PLACE!” ~Andrea Klunder

It’s actually been so intense that I’m alternating between these bursts of manic creative insight where I can’t sleep and I’m up way late into the night — so late I hear the birds chirping in the pre-dawn darkness outside my window  And then these periods of deep sleep without an alarm clock, where I will sleep for 11 hours at a stretch.

And in between all of that are the client deadlines for projects new and old, the smattering of yoga and meditation classes I teach throughout the week, the orientations for the After School Matters podcasting program for high schoolers I’m creating and facilitating starting this summer, hosting and expanding the Chicago Women’s Creative Collective and producing this podcast.

Busy. 

Are you exhausted just listening to this? 

And this leads me back to my coaching with Elsie at the beginning of this month.

I asked her to help me figure out what to do next with The Creative Impostor, where I fit into the podcasting industry, how to leverage my unique gifts, skills and strengths for a sustainable purpose-driven business.

And here’s what she said to me first:

You have the ability to “become what is needed” in any situation— you have the solution for any problem.

BUT what do you want to do?

“I have everything I need. And now I have the luxury to let go of the hustle and spend some time focusing on what I want to do and create and who I want to be for a while.” ~Andrea Klunder

 

Resources & Links…

The Creative Impostor Magic page! Get a special gift from Andrea here.

Charlotte Elea’s Exclusive Daily Tarot Package for The Creative Impostor Community! – Includes e-course, your own tarot deck in the mail AND a 30min intuitive session with Charlotte. Get the details & sign up here by June 7th!!!

Monica Martin’s 7-day exploration: Discover your inner (re)sources
Includes guided meditation, creative expression, body/felt sense intuition, etc and it’s free! Get the details & start here.

Support the Show…

Andrea’s Patreon Page — where you can support the show, get cool gifts from me and can become an active participant in the creative community!

Free Audio Book & 30 day trial membership with Audible.com (support The Creative Impostor when you sign up!)

This episode was mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz of Mondo Machine.
The Creative Impostor theme music was created by JoVia Armstrong.

I’d LOVE to hear from you!

If you’re listening in Apple Podcasts, PLEASE subscribe and leave a review. It’s how Apple decides which shows people find when they are searching for specific topics like this one.

019: Toolkit: Self-Compassion

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“When we get stuck in ego, achievements and accomplishments — stuck in self-doubt — stuck in ‘not enough’ syndrome, we need only to remember who we really are… and let go of these attachments” ~Andrea

Did you hear the story of how the Buddha became the Buddha?

Well, before he was a Buddha, he was a Prince named Siddartha Guatama. Prince Siddartha grew up sheltered and protected within the walls of the palace because his father didn’t want him to know the pain of suffering and death. But one day as a young man, the prince ventured out into the world, curious to learn what existed beyond the palace walls. He found pain, suffering and death and so he vowed to discover a way to put an end to all this suffering and so began a long arduous quest for enlightenment.

He tried EVERYTHING and nothing worked.

One day, he chose a bodhi tree and declared that he would sit beneath this tree until he found the way.

As you can imagine, the God of the Underworld, Mara, didn’t really want an end to his reign so he devised a plan to seduce the Prince Siddartha out from under that tree. Mara sent his 3 most beautiful daughters (Lust, Fulfillment, and Regret) to appeal to the young prince’s desires.

It didn’t work. Prince Siddartha had already let go of attachment.

So then Mara decided to scare the prince out from under the tree. He sent a legion of monstrous demons

The spears and arrows fell to the ground and turned to lotus flower blossoms at his feet. Prince Siddartha had already let go of fear.

And then Mara got crafty. He went to the prince himself and whispered in his ear, “You’re supposed to be a prince and one day, a king. How could you abandon your duty to your people and be so self-centered? Pursuing this thing called “enlightenment” — how selfish! Who do you think you are anyway?”

And Prince Siddartha felt the pangs of self-doubt — the most difficult challenge of all!

He knew he couldn’t face it alone, so he reach out his hand and touched the earth beneath him. He called out to the Earth Goddess and asked her to bear witness to his right to be here.

In that moment, the Earth rose to affirm his presence, Mara bowed in defeat, and Siddartha received the gift of enlightenment. He became the Buddha.

So maybe you didn’t know this story about the Buddha, but maybe you’ve heard of Brene Brown, author of Daring Greatly and most recently, Rising Strong.

Brene is best known for her two TED Talks on shame and vulnerability.

Okay… so what the heck to the Buddha and Brene Brown have in common?

Get episode 19 on iTunes to get the scoop!

Facebook * Twitter * LinkedIn * Periscope * Instagram * Tumblr 

“‘The only unique contribution we will make in this world will be born out of creativity.” ~Brene Brown

The problem is that, according to Brene’s research, 85% of people are carrying shame around them and 50% of those people have shame wounds specifically around creativity.

The problem is that shame leads to self-doubt and when we are mired in self-doubt, it’s pretty hard to boldly share our true selves or make our creative work. So then what contribution can we possibly make?

Lucky for me, I am a very creative person. I’ve created blogs, businesses, meetup groups, nonprofit organizations, plays, films, stories, poetry (mostly bad), and THIS podcast!

In fact, I’m so good at creating, right now I’m creating an audio course on creating called How to Start (anything)!

So clearly, I don’t have to worry about self-doubt! Or do I…?

Links Galore


A creative impostor challenge for you!

Yoda Pumpkin

 

Ready to train yourself to be kinder to YOU?

May I be happy.
May I be healthy.
May I be safe.
May I have ease.

Say these 4 phrases to yourself, out loud at first and then silently, as many times as you can whenever you can!

NOLA Jazz

NOLA Jazz!

 

Our first Creative Space Travel Retreat to New Orleans is in the works! Get the inside scoop…

 

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Don’t know where to begin?

My How to Start e-course is designed to help you take those first few bold steps on your creative path no matter what! Truly, I’ve taken all the wisdom from my podcast guests, past teachers and a whole lot of experience with failure AND success. Coming soon — drop your email here for an invitation to join our next round!

This episode was mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz of Mondo Machine.
The Creative Impostor theme music was created by JoVia Armstrong.

I want to hear from you. If you’re listening in iTunes, PLEASE leave a review. It’s how iTunes decides which shows people find when they are searching for specific topics like this one.

Also send me a message! What do you think so far? What’s your greatest impostor moment? Email your written comments or leave a voicemail using SpeakPipe — and when you do, I just may read the message or play your voice on a future episode.