All Episodes - Shut Your Monkey
Hear that voice in your head? The one that nitpicks all your new ideas? That's your monkey. And we're gonna shut it down!SHUT YOUR MONKEY: The Podcast is going to give you a weekly dose of moral support and practical advice. With intelligence, wit, and compassion, best-selling author Danny Gregory and his weekly guests will delve deep into your head and pull that monkey out. We'll explore creative blocks, missed deadlines, tantrums, procrastination, perfectionism, and all the old monkey tricks. And we'll leave you super-charged, inspired and ready to start making your best work.Based on the new, life-changing book — available everywhere.
View Podcast Details12 Episodes
The Final Shutdown
Two years after my last episode, I'm back with some final thoughts and a big announcement. I will tell you the one thing that is guaranteed to not only shut your monkey once and for all but also to transform your life and leave a lasting mark on the world. What is your mission? And how can you make it your destiny? Lets discuss it. If you'd like to continue this discussion, let's do it! My new Sketchbook Skool podcast art for all is available and I'd love to have you join me as I di...
11Intoxicated - Victor Yocco
This week we’ll discuss how the monkey uses alcohol, drugs, overeating and other destructive habits to interfere with our creativity. This week's guest is Victor Yocco, the author and psychologist. Click here to find out more about Victor's new book, Design for the Mind - Seven Psychological Principles of Persuasive Design. Use the discount code: yoccomupad to get 39% off the book if you order through the publisher. Monkey of the Week: the Enabler. It’s that voice that says: Have a drink, you deserve it. Get high, it’ll make you more creative. Act like a prima donna if you want...
10Impossible — Jennifer Louden
Last week, I felt a little harried and overwhelmed and the podcast was rushed and missing some good bits so I hope to make up for it this week with lots of interesting stuff. Our main topic will be how the monkey tries to define our lives in completely unrealistic ways. This week's guest is Jennifer Louden, the bestselling author and personal growth pioneer. If you like the conversation, I urge to to download a free copy of her great new book. Click here for your free copy of How to Follow Through on Your Creativ...
09Unreliable — Ilise Benun
This week we’ll discuss how unreliable the monkey’s advice can be and why you should ignore much of what it says. And then we’ll get some much more reliable and useful advice. We’ll talk to Ilise Benun, the author, speaker and founder of Marketing-Mentor.com, who has been helping creative people improve their game for thirty years. What’s your experience with your monkey? How has it affected you, and how have you overcome it? Record your Monkey Tale at dannygregory.com/monkey. This podcast is brought to you by Sketchbook Skool, online art k...
08Change - Karen Salmansohn
In this week’s podcast, Shut Your Monkey author and host Danny Gregory talks with the author Karen Salmansohn. Karen has sold over a million copies of her wonderful and hilarious self-help books, books like How to Be Happy Dammit, The Prince Harming Syndrome, Instant Happy and The Bounce Back Book. She’s a contributor to Oprah, Psychology Today, The Huffington Post, Lifetime TV, a relationship expert for match.com, and a radio host on Sirius. We had a sprawling, wonderful chat that was eye-opening and monkey-scaring. Monkey of the Week: The Fuggedabout-it. It’s that voic...
07Distractions - Jonathan Carroll
In this week’s podcast, Shut Your Monkey author and host Danny Gregory talks with the novelist Jonathan Carroll. The conversation is freewheeling — from how to start a novel, to day-jobs to the benefits of self-criticism, how to make your creative self your friend to the pleasures of handwritten manuscripts. Here's an example of a second draft of his manuscript for Bathing the Lion. He also pointed me to this great video of Francis Ford Coppola showing the manuscript for The Godfather. Monkey Tale: Liz introduces us to her purple monkey ...
06Meddling - Todd Colby
In this week’s podcast, Shut Your Monkey author and host Danny Gregory talks with Todd Colby, the poet, artist and former member of Drunken Boat. They'll discuss the creative process and the role of discipline and preparation in keeping the monkey at bay. Monkey of the Week: the Paranoid. It’s that voice that says: "They’re laughing and sneering, because no one likes you. Or trusts you. Or admires you. And they can’t wait to see you screw up." What can we say in response? Monkey Tale: Lenore has a revelation in the shower about...
05Ghosts - Patti Digh
In this week’s podcast, Shut Your Monkey author and host Danny Gregory talks with Patti Digh, the bestselling author, teacher and storyteller. They'll discuss trauma and how the harsh voices of our childhood can continue to play tired old tapes in our heads — long past their expiration date. Monkey of the Week: the Fake. It’s that voice that says: "You are a fraud and an imposter. Everyone knows you can’t do this. They’re all laughing behind your naive back." What can we say in response? Monkey Tale: A few careless critiques can derail one...
04Creative Targets - Stefan Sagmeister
Why does the monkey hate when you make create something new? This episode will dig into it. First, I talk about creativity and how the monkey loves to hate it, meddling with your creative process and throwing up blocks. Then I am joined by this week’s guest, the rock-star of graphic design, Stefan Sagmeister. I’ve known Stefan for about fifteen years and every time we chat I come up away excited, impressed and inspired. He first became famous for a poster he designed in which he carved all the type into his chest with a razor...
03Origins: Dr. Robyn Cooper
Why do most of us have an inner critic, a negative inner voice that keeps us from being creative and trying new things? In this week’s podcast, Shut Your Monkey author and host Danny Gregory talks with psychologist Dr. Robyn Cooper to uncover Whthe psychological sources of our negative inner voices, shedding light on their origins and exposing them as historical, but not necessarily honest. Dr. Cooper also shares a simple set of questions that will help you make positive and lasting change. Monkey Tale: Monkeys are excellent mimics—just ask Rosie, who wanted to be an...
02Meet Your Monkey - Susanna Suchak
What does your monkey—your inner critic—look and sound like? In this podcast, Shut Your Monkey author and host Danny Gregory helps you identify the monkey and shows you why it is not you. Then, Danny talks to artist, therapist, and creativity coach Susanna Suchak about how the monkey can affect all areas of your life, the scientifically proven therapeutic value of journaling, and how to quiet your chimp’s damaging chatter. Monkey of the Week: The Blunderer, the monkey that tries to stop you with doubt. If that fails, it tells you that whatever...
01Welcome to Shut Your Monkey
The monkey is your inner critic. It’s the voice inside us that says, “This [whatever creative thing you want to do] is a mistake!” Dare to draw and the monkey will hurl insults at your work; try to write and it’ll screech. The monkey’s job is to keep you from being creative, and it can sabotage all areas of your life. Join Danny Gregory, artist and best-selling author of Shut Your Monkey and the artists, authors, therapists and creatives he interviews. Together we'll learn how to shut our monkeys. In this premiere episode, Danny tells you how t...