#E1 - Why Creativity Is a Practice, Not a Talent (1/8)

You were born creative. Not you, if you happen to be one of the lucky ones. Not you, if you showed early promise or had a parent who encouraged it. All of you. Every single one of you listening to this.This is where the first episode begins — with that claim, and with everything that has been done, quietly and usually with good intentions, to make you doubt it.Episode One is about the pruning of the creative self. About the internal voice that presents as an ally and is not — the cheerleader who ensures you never feel enough, who is already pointing to what comes next before you have had a chance to receive what you just made. About the difference between talent and creativity, and why confusing the two has cost so many women so much time. And about the single most important thing I have come to believe after thirty years of making and teaching: that creativity and authenticity are not separate things. They are the same thing, wearing different clothes.It is also about what a creative practice actually is. Not the inspired hours. Not the flow state we are all waiting for. The ordinary, imperfect, irregular act of showing up — before the day has had a chance to tell you what to think.This is the first episode of In the Studio — a podcast about the creative life, why it gets crowded out, and what it takes to find your way back. New episodes every two weeks.I am Chandra Rice. I make things at Il Baciarino, a small agriturismo in the hills of Tuscany. I have been making things for thirty years and teaching people to do the same for most of that time. This podcast is what I have learned — not about clay or colour, but about what it actually takes to keep showing up. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chandralrice.substack.com