Explore every episode of the podcast Living Your Truth
Dive into the complete episode list for Living Your Truth. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
“Nothing comes as an accomplishment instantly. Success does not come overnight. Patience is the key! Grow up and be the tree; but remember it takes dry and wet seasons to become a fruit bearer, achiever, and impact maker!” - Israelmore Ayivor
Rubeena is the business owner of a creative shop, The Gray Muse, a social worker and a psychotherapist by profession. The Gray Muse was founded in 2019 and it is the first enamel pin shop designed specifically with crafters and artists in mind.
In this episode, we talked about setting up a creative business for yourself, enjoying the process more than the outcome, finding your own version of success and the importance of listening to your own intuition to guide the way.
Here's what we talk about in this episode:
a little background and intro about Rubeena and her work
how she started her business
focusing on academics and never allowing her creativity to flourish before turning 29
learning to combine the artistic and analytical side
connecting with the artistic side
art allows you to let go of control and perfectionism
the process is way more important than the outcome
the approach is different if you choose to study design or fine arts
finding your style
having a sense of play when it comes to creating is important
becoming okay with good enough work instead of obsessing over the perfect one
your work will resonate with some people and it won't resonate with others but it is nothing personal
taking risks and becoming okay with the results
how becoming a mother taught her to stretch her comfort zone
the importance of staying curious
asking for help when you need it
listening to your intuition
trusting yourself along the way
you are more capable than you give yourself credit for
you can achieve anything you put your mind to is a mindset
the need to feel like an expert and why we don't believe in the myth of being an expert
information overload in this era
finding your very own version of success
people-pleasing won't take you much far
the relation between success and your age
what her day looks like
advice for someone who wants to start their own creative business
Creating Every Day with Sarah Van Der Linden (Mirglis)
23 Dec 2019
00:48:29
Sarah is a watercolor artist, photographer and nature enthusiast based in Seine et Marne, France. She paints beautiful landscapes and she teaches online on Skillshare.
I have been following her work for a while and it was such an honour to invite her and talk to her about her process. In this episode, we chatted about her love for nature and how it inspires her to paint, why is it important for her to create and how it all began. Sarah creates every day. At least one painting a day. I find it fascinating. I hope you'll enjoy learning about her journey too!
Here's what we talk about in this episode:
a little background and intro about Sarah and her work
how she lost touch with her creative side while growing up and why that happened
when money is involved it impacts the way you show up for your creativity
how moving to the countryside played a role in her connection back to her creativity
she paints landscapes in watercolors and how it all began
her struggles in the beginning
how everything doesn't turn out how you want it to be in the beginning
learning to accept the beginner stage
becoming okay with experimenting
the medium of watercolors invite experimentation
how she developed her own unique style with time and what the journey of finding her own artistic voice looked like
committing to practicing
doing a 100 day project for painting
current project: 30 day project of painting forest inspired by the colors of autumn
why is it important for her to create and celebrate nature through her work
having the time and space to slow down and be mindful
stepping outside of your comfort zone
advice for creatives who are struggling to find their own artistic voice
how she likes to spend her days
having a morning ritual and starting your day with doing something for yourself that brings you joy
making a habit of painting a painting every single day
teaching online skillshare classes
speaking and teaching in English when it is not your first language
learning different languages
focusing more on the process instead of the outcome
learning that there are no right or wrong ways of doing things especially in creating art
Rebecca is a southwest-based multi-passionate creative; photographer, jeweler, painter, and writer. She likes keeping her hands and mind busy, in the studio and out in nature. She has self-published over 20 artist books. She makes jewelry by hand with recycled gold and silver, conflict-free diamonds and ethically sourced stones. She uses natural light and elements to tell stories with her photography. Her paintings focus on light and highlight climate change.
In this episode, we chatted about what it is like to be a multi-passionate with an interdisciplinary approach towards making art.
This episode is more like a casual conversation where Becca is sharing her story, how she sees the world and what has shaped her approach. If you consider yourself a multi-passionate too, this episode will encourage you to give permission to follow your curiosities in a way that works for you and keep going.
Here's what we talk about in this episode:
a little intro about Rebecca and her work
how she juggles and makes time for all these different creative ventures
what helps her in making time for writing
figuring out ways to clear the head and making time to do nothing
her experience of going to art school
where the interdisciplinary approach comes from
struggles of being a multi-passionate
how she manages her focus
not making everything about working or making money but having a few things to do as a hobby
building healthy habits: carving more time for reading
finding goals that have nothing to do with work like training for a marathon so you are not always in the studio
what following your curiosity looks like
carving out time where there are no expectations so you are letting yourself to be curious
the importance of being bored
managing time and your energies along the way
reconnecting with your own creativity when you start to feel overwhelmed
the artists way inspired activities that help: morning pages and artist dates
importance of asking yourself questions that move you forward
how to tackle the overwhelm and busy months
always learning something new and staying engaged
her collection of paintings on the climate change - in her own words, ''things we don't see, things we can't see and things we won't see because it is all changing so much''
we create connections by visual artwork and sharing our thoughts in that way
the different mediums give you different kinds of opportunities and lifestyles
self-employment and the need for human interaction
current struggles along the lines of recovering from burnout and too much work and staying inspired
the struggles with connection, internet, and social media as solace for self-employed creatives but also, it is taking over our lives
relationship with Instagram - Instagram and connection
learning to balance the use of social media and putting the phone down
other sides of small business: accounting, finances and administration tasks
learning to be more efficient
the creative process on a day to day basis and how she likes to spend her days
the role of planning ahead of time and having a bigger picture in her work
enjoying the flexibility that comes with working for yourself
staying motivated on a day to day basis
living close to nature and how it inspires her creative process
Maria is an artist living in Stockholm, Sweden. She paints mostly abstract landscapes in watercolors and acrylics. Her aim is to capture the majestic nature and reserved cultural atmosphere of Scandinavia in her art. Her hope is that her work will bring a sense of calm to the viewer.
This episode is about Maria's story of growing into an artist. She shares her personal struggles and where she is at now in her journey. We talked a lot about making art and what stands in the way and how to approach it. There is a lot of great advice for creatives.
This episode is a treat for visual artists and painters as her approach to art is inspiring and uplifting. I really hope you'll enjoy the conversation as much as I did and take something of value out of it.
Here's what we talk about in this episode:
a little intro about Maria and her work
growing up with an artist mother and how she felt afraid of her work being compared to her mother's
choosing graphic design over painting and making art to follow the structure plus rules and saving herself from getting it wrong
painting for the sake of the process in private
moving through the discomfort
taking a leap and taking two years off to paint and figure out what she would like to be doing next
how she is managing her time and work online
managing the company and showing her work online
the creative freedom that we all long for
taking the pressure off by allowing yourself to not make money from your art
finding your style and how to go about it
putting in the hours in your art practice is important
how she approaches painting
ways to keep yourself motivated and not getting disappointed along the way
creating without focusing on a specific outcome but creating for the sake of creating
an exercise for perfectionists who would like to paint
the 100 day project of painting
how one can take the pressure off your paintings
growing and developing as an artist
detaching your self-worth from your work allows you to experiment more
learning to not think what other people say about your art because it is not for everyone
advice for someone who is starting out
investing in fewer good materials instead of having more cheaper ones
struggles with not wanting to waste the materials and how to go about it
Showing Up As An Introverted Shy Creative Online with Ruth Poundwhite
02 Dec 2019
00:44:33
Ruth is a creative business mentor to quietly ambitious women based in the UK. She has been in the online business world for about 11 years. Ruth recognizes herself as a massive introverted shy human.
In this episode, we talked about what is it like to be an introvert who is quietly ambitious in the online business world, how she is managing her energy and building the stamina to keep showing up as her self while honouring her needs and how and where is she finding support. We also talked about noticing the difference between when it is fear that is holding us back and when it is the need to recharge and take some time off.
This episode is full of juicy bits and aha moments for introverts who are trying to put themselves out there and are ambitious. Connecting to Ruth and seeing her taking up space online has been a real joy and confidence booster for me. I hope you'll enjoy the conversation as much as I did.
Here's what we talk about in this episode:
a little intro about Ruth and her work
being a quiet, ambitious, shy and introverted human
working and building a business in a way that works for us
struggles of showing up as yourself
her personal story and experience of embracing her introverted side
business and life being one thing when you build a personal brand
putting yourself out there as the face of your brand
starting a business brings up all the insecurities you have about yourself
starting a business is a vulnerable thing
there is not just one way to do things
sharing and showing up as yourself honestly brings in people who resonate with your values and you as a person
stretching your comfort zone
putting yourself out there is a practice, the more you do it, the more you become comfortable with putting yourself out there
showing up on talking to camera stories on Instagram, the struggles and how you can build that confidence
how to approach that idea that you have nothing interesting or important to say or add to the conversation
what resonates with people and how you make connections as an introvert
how to maintain your energy levels as an introvert
the difference between do I really need to recharge or is there something to work on
being quiet and introverted is not a bad thing
owning our introverted selves and maintaining healthy boundaries
noticing the difference between fear holding us back and our need to recharge as an introverted human
Inclusivity, Creativity and Words that Liberate Us with Huma Qureshi
25 Nov 2019
01:03:11
Huma is a writer, a journalist and an award-winning author, and she writes about the extraordinary joy and beauty that can be found in ordinary little things, creating a home, navigating motherhood, and living simply and purposefully.
In this episode, we talked about her love for the written word, how her south Asian heritage has influenced her as a person and as a writer as well, learning to say no and navigating writing, life, and motherhood all at the same time.
Huma and I share the same cultural heritage as we are both from Pakistan. I grew up in Pakistan and she didn't but still, our experiences are quite the same in many ways. We also talked about inclusion, why representation matters and why we need to hear, see and read more stories in which we can see ourselves reflected to create space for what's possible for us.
Here's what we talk about in this episode:
how it all begun and what influenced her desire to write
journalism and moving on to writing for herself
motherhood and the struggle with self-doubt
becoming a freelance writer
developing reading as a habit
how having an Asian heritage has influenced her as a person and as a writer while living far from the culture itself
Inclusion: we need more stories we can relate to because representation matters
inclusivity in the book publishing world, the media publishing world and also on the micro levels of blogs, Instagram and social media
why do we need to hear and share those stories really?
expectations from girls who grow up in Asian culture and how it can feel heavy
South Asian culture and marriages
her personal story of looking for examples when she fell in love with an Englishman
how did Huma allowed herself to not let those societal and cultural pressures decide how she chooses to show up in the world
the struggles of finding a balance between motherhood and her love for writing
learning to say no
how her blog came to be
the failures along the way
finding her way back to her writing
why she writes
what does her day to day creative process look like
Doing the Work & Building Creative Confidence with Jill Dimond Art
15 Nov 2019
00:30:30
Jill Dimond Art is an artist, photographer, and transcriber. She likes to draw nature and celebrate wildlife through her art. In this conversation, we talked about her journey of embracing her love for making art, doing the work, finding the courage to share her work online and building creative confidence along the way too.
Here's what we talk about in the episode:
realizing her creative side
gathering the courage to share her work online
struggles with procrastination and perfectionism
developing the practice of making art
celebrating wildlife and nature via art
the importance of creating
struggles with confidence and a different approach towards feeling confident
feeling the discomfort in the creative process
trying something new and feeling unsafe
not attaching results to the outcome
going through the process
struggles with selling
the creative process on a day to day basis
the importance of being outside and connecting with nature
Sarah Fraser is an editor, writer, teacher, and blogger and we talked about her personal journey of reconnecting with her creativity.
She took us back on the journey along with her through her early childhood and how she always wanted to be an author but somehow along the way got distracted by the shoulds and quote-unquote real-life responsibilities of finding a well-paid career instead. She further shares how she is reconnecting with her creativity now and showing up for it.
Here's what we talk about in this episode:
losing touch with creativity
the decision of not monetizing writing
rebel/questioner tendencies
fitting in vs. focusing on who she wanted to be
falling into the trap of 'should's' and self-doubt
teaching as a career
lack of mental space and time to work on new & creative ideas
not feeling like an expert
sharing your struggles and being vulnerable online
finding support and like-minded people
differentiating between the voice of inner critic and intuition
importance of creating, writing and sharing stories
Ask me a question or send me a DM and connect with me on instagram and let's keep the conversation going.
Doing Things Our Own Way with Agnes Becker (We Are Stardust)
06 Jan 2020
01:06:48
Agnes is an artist, freelance science communication consultant and creator of the online shop, we are stardust. We are stardust is a print design shop where art and science collide.
In this episode, we talked about her journey of combining science and art, creating a niche market for herself, going freelance, doing things her own way and how she is making it all work.
Her artwork is absolutely gorgeous. Agnes's story is the last of this series: the end of the first season of living your truth podcast. I am super happy to share her story with you as her story is a testament to doing things in our own unique, messy and human way. I am sure this episode will also give you permission to do things in their own way too.
Survey 2020 (plus as a thank you 10% off discount code)
Here's what we talk about in this episode:
a beautiful introduction about Agnes herself and her online adventure, we are stardust
the uncommon combination of art and science in her work
Craving a unique niche for herself: Freelance Science Communication Consultant
how it all started and what did the journey of getting here looked like
the distinction between art and science was not something that made sense to her and she tried to combine the two in a way that would make sense when she was choosing her graduate studies
finding your feet in the job market
doing part-time jobs to keep yourself afloat while living in an expensive city like London
understanding how you work best
going freelance
setting up the online shop and where the inspiration came from
becoming a mum
perfectionism and how she approaches it
why it is important for her to do what she does
art, drawing, and painting as a form of meditation
observing better and being curious about your surroundings
you don't always have to know everything
her struggles when she first launched we are stardust
clarity and the fear of what other people will think or say about us
current struggles
prioritising better and learning to prioritise the ones that bring you joy
having a limited time in your hands
learning to say no and practicing kindness
having a plan in advance takes the indecision away
starting with the creative expression when starting to work instead of sitting down to do the admin or editorial tasks
finding support online and offline
it all starts with the mindset
learning to embrace and let things flow instead of trying to perfect them and control them
her creative process and how she likes to spend her days
the pressure we put on ourselves for our creativity to earn us money
practicing gratitude
what does living a wholehearted creative life looks like for her