The Real You vs The Rendered You | Oct 27, 2025

In this open discussion episode, host Jen Van Horn leads a conversation about self-identity, authenticity, and the pressures motion designers face to mask their true selves, with insights from Kendall Hotchkiss, Lee Smalt, Moe Murdock, Sam J, Landon X. Jenkins, and Cameron Butterfield.This episode covers:Mental health and self-identity: How disconnecting from your creative identity during layoffs or industry changes can be catastrophic for mental health, with discussion of practices to maintain authentic creative habitsJob security myths: Why full-time positions aren't truly stable since employees are ultimately numbers to companies, and how freelancers often develop better resilience through managing multiple client relationshipsAI as masking tool: The concerning trend of creatives using AI to craft opinions rather than developing authentic perspectives, with warnings about AI providing false information to please usersGender dynamics in creative work: How women in motion design face unique challenges with over-apologizing, downplaying expertise, and balancing confidence with authenticity in professional settingsScarcity mindset dangers: How fear-based decision making leads to over-promising on deadlines and saying yes to wrong projects, requiring conscious checking of motivationsPractical authenticity exercises: Ten actionable steps for maintaining creative authenticity including truth sketches, honoring creative instincts, sharing works-in-progress, and creating art not meant for postingUpcoming Events:Next week: Open discussion format for November planningVisit MondayMeeting.org for this episode and other conversations from the motion design community!SHOW NOTES:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Monday Meeting Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Monday Meeting Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Newsletter⁠