The Creative Train Podcast

I'll call this episode 68.5, as I'm wrangling some guests in for the next big one, episode 69 (*smirk) in which we're going to tell stories, some "blue" some weird, but all are going to be about the strange things we encounter during performances, sessions or in teaching environments.  Should be some fun conversations for your listening pleasure! Stay tuned!

This episode has sat on the backburner for a while now, I was hesitant to release it until I saw a bit of a swell in this same sentiment among fellow creatives.  This is not meant to assign shame or blame on anybody in particular, but rather shine a light on the question of why the biggest supporters of our artistic endeavours seem to be strangers and not our closest "inner circle".  It's a very real question that every single artist or creator has asked themselves at some point. 

Searching yourself up online can be a very weird experience.  Just last week I looked up "creativity coaches"- this is something I purposely did NOT do prior to setting up Creative Train as I wanted to let the site, podcast and everything else reflect me, my methods and in my manner.  So, now two years into this, I Googled my gig and was pretty surprised at what I found, and didn't find!

I thought I might do one ai podcast. Then I did another.  This is the third one. And the reason for it is- I've seen many associates businesses come close to the edge of failing because of past customers now resorting to the "free" ai options for graphic design, image creation, voice over, music "creation" and video for their advertisements and even entertainment.  I know, the world is not ending over this, but our general perception of culture and the quality and value of art is now at an all-time low. Something will suffer for this, and it won't be your ISP or streaming service; something much more important than those...  

Are you being heard? Are your students actually listening? Do they understand your lesson material? How do you know when your lessons are working for your students? In my case, it was when I hear them citing points I've made in the past as the catalyst for their growth!

When you're in hot pursuit of a creative goal, you can be focussed, intense and determined. But what happens once that goal is reached, that mission accomplished and now you kinda feel burned out, empty and frustrated? A few months ago I was in that exact spot, but I kept pushing, and regained my momentum but this time in a newer direction.  Have a listen, let me know how you pulled your creative self back together. If you haven't done that yet, then you really should listen!

Inspiration- where does it come from? How do we foster and grow our creative energies? This episode digs into the actual work involved in learning an art form which brings us to the point of JOY in our creations!  Learn, repeat, reinforce- but always remember your own unique vibe factor. Let's keep real art alive!

This is a universal topic for artists in any discipline- when ca we call a song, painting, poem, dish, done? Like, it's as good as it's gonna get? My story of an 11 year old song FINALLY getting recorded might resonate with your own process if you've been eternally dissatisfied with your stuff, have a listen.  Leave a comment if you can relate, let's have a conversation.

I learned a few really solid lessons these past few weeks when I would typically have delayed my processes while waiting for input from some peers on my work.  Working somewhat outside of my comfort zone I sought some input, which never really came. Instead of giving up, I remembered to trust myself, my skills and my process. And it worked out just fine!  This might be a good listen if you have had doubts about your work. 

In this episode I recount some very strange experiences I had which left me staring at my comfort zone from the outside; I took it as a creative challenge and 6 years later it's bearing fruit!  You may relate to my experience, or not, but what we can all relate to is the importance of our comfort zone and the necessity to step outside of it.

An episode dedicated to all those artists, past and present who have left an indelible mark upon us as creatives. Small moments of gratitude, honouring their inspiration goes a long way to not only fuel yourself but maybe the artists you're most inspired by. Who knows, maybe YOU are that inspirational in someone's life?! Have a listen, leave a comment of who's on your list of greatest influences!

In this episode, I recount some very personal experience about a creative relationship built upon with a "fictional" character created by a fellow artist. I fell for the "masked persona" and so did several others.  There are some hard questions to ask yourself within this episode- can you live up to the persona you present to the world? Do you have the courage to reveal your authentic self? Can you back-up your reputation or do you hide behind excuses? This is a tough topic to face, but we all have to at some point.

A more emotionally charged episode with some recounting of my own experience and catharsis. Brief synopsis: "Your creative mind is not bound by time or place"  Consider that.  Let me know what you think, let's have a conversation. 

As a teacher, you are charged with many tasks- delivering information, testing, marking, monitoring class behaviour, and inspiring your students to want to learn.  The last part is often the hardest; each student has their own learning needs and motivations so how do you as a teacher grab their attention, then retain it? By making your lessons relatable instead of treating your classes like a sermon! Here's a bit of what I do to do that.

In this episode I'm diving into the question of why we create things. What inspired us to take up an artistic pursuit? What do we hope to accomplish with all this investment of time, money, emotion and space in our homes? I hope that all artists who listen to this will pick up on some new things to think about, new inspirations, motivations and affirmations.  And if you are considering finally embarking on the artist's journey- let this add some fuel to your creative fire!    

I have enjoyed almost three weeks off of work over the Christmas holiday season, I was very productive at home though!  In this episode I let you in on a few things coming up for the podcast, guests, inspirations and some fun self-observation.  

I could talk about this for days, but here's 17.5 minutes of my thoughts on this! When our goals and inspirations reach far beyond the normal things that day-to-day-life needs us to do, we tend to become dreamers, wanderers and dare I say, a bit weird?! Artists- if you're struggling, listen to this, I hope this will ease your struggle. And if you have artsy friends, this episode might help you understand those often misunderstood folks in your life!   

Peter saw his teenage hobby turn into a thriving career! As a young man, he experimented with what was "new tech" at the time- hand-held video recorders and massive machines for editing his creations.  Later in life, Peter found himself working in various aspects of the burgeoning film industry in Toronto, Ontario (Canada) and finally to his current gig as an independent contractor creating promotional and training videos,  captivating documentaries for major corporations, independent films, working  a day job for a major television production company as well as making social media ads for several local mom-and-pop-shops in his hometown.     In this episode, we run the gamut of everything you might expect to find when you seek to turn your hobby into your career, from drawing up contracts, to negotiations, to working for "the man", nightmare clients and dream gigs. All of this and more as we discuss the ins and outs  of making a living in the arts! 

This is a bit of a "day in the life" of this particular artsie, but also some very do-able stuff for you if you are struggling to get some creative momentum and to do so GUILT FREE! Your art/craft/passion/hobby takes time and eventually space. Making and allowing time and space is not being selfish, in fact it does a lot to make us better humans as well as artists!  Here's what I like to do and what I know from experience also works for many others.  Have a listen, let me know what YOU do for your creative routines and spaces! 

How and why we create, but also the same thought about why we surround ourselves with art.  Whether it's music, visual art, food, poetry, art brings us comfort, affirmation and energy. This is for the artists and consumers alike- how do you choose to decorate your time and space?

As a performer and educator in the arts, I have had the joy of riding that frustrating and furious wave of creative inspiration as my job, but also being a "surfing instructor" to more than 50,000 private students over the past 30-something years. I've heard every excuse for not practicing! But I have also come up with a response to each and every one of them! Here are a few things to consider if yours, or your students well of inspiration seems to be running a bit dry.  Little things, daily things, but they all add up to making you WANT to keep at it!

Creativity is much more than "doing art" in much the same way that "Play" is much more than "doing sports". To me, a creative mindset is one based in curiosity and honed through play and experience.  Play time is not a reward for good performance, it can be your refuge, your well of inspiration or just for fun. Either way, it is absolutely necessary to not only make your days a little more enjoyable but also more productive!

The artist's mind is usually pretty busy, planning, conjuring, creating and imagining. It can be tiring, and distracting but still fulfilling and exciting and chance falling into depression if the well of inspiration runs dry. So why do we allow ourselves to live this kind of life? Certainly there must be easier things to occupy our minds and hearts...I'm sure there are, but hey, artsie, ask yourself this: "What Else Are You Going To Do"? Being an artist is not a choice, it's who you are.

The mirror we're talking about here is your own work.  Do you see your self in your art? Does it carry your "vibe factor"? This self-assessment is pretty important as we grow and evolve; to keep our motivations, inspirations and goals foremost in our mind and heart requires a great deal of honesty in asking (and answering) some big questions!

This episode explores our transformation as artists, people and interpersonally with our fellows as we embark upon a creative journey.  Two recent very contrasting conversations were the inspiration for this- how the student/teacher relationship develops and how we as creators and artists start to change our view of the world and ourselves, as our abilities and perspectives grow, evolve and transform.  Leave a comment, lets have a conversation about this!

13 months ago I started the Creative Train Podcast with the hopes of reaching a few folks, today the podcast passed 500 downloads on the native/hosting site and I am thrilled, thank you!   I am looking to grow with new guests and new input from you! For now, I will continue recounting my daily life as a musician, music educator and glass artist with the sole focus of inspiring and empowering as a fellow artist/creator and educator.   So what's with the distinction between artist and a creator?  I talk about that here too, all aboard?

It happens. Literally, to everyone. whether you're an artist or not, sometimes you will lose your groove. This is my own experience with the same thing- how I regained momentum with a reminder of WHY art is my life's work, not just my hobby!

If you are a new artist or returning to a creative pursuit, this episode is for you!  Art is not a competition, a race, or a measuring stick between you and anyone else. Art is an outlet, a vehicle to express joy and bring beauty into the world. We all celebrate the creations and innocent expressions of children, but please remember that the most joyful part of you is awaiting your return to making fun stuff and having fun doing so! 

In this episode I explore the quantity vs quality conundrum we as artists and creators and now faced with: can we or should we use AI tech to do the thinking for us when it comes to creating new things?  AI is great for gathering and parsing information already made available online, but can it create something totally original, something not sourced in another person's creations? One of my 12 year old music students had a very interesting experiment he did with AI, and the discussion we had about it was the seed for this episode.

As an artist, there are many types of relationships you have with other artists.  Some are casual and brief, others take shape and evolve over many years; every single one of them is worth your effort to a degree.  This is my story of how an almost decade-long relationship dissolved in and into silence, how I came to terms with it and how I chose to move on.  There are many lessons learned in this one. My biggest take-away is that after publishing this, I am giving myself permission to wipe my mind clean of resentment and move on with my creativity and honour in tact.

On a similar vibe to episode 39 about creative teaching methods, this episode focuses on developing and earning respect in a student/teacher situation.  I recount one of my best and one of my worst experiences with this issue, I truly hope that if you are a struggling teacher you can find some inspiration here; and if you are a student having trouble engaging with your teacher(s) maybe you can find some tactics to help create a more fruitful relationship!  

I have touched on this topic in past episodes, but some events from this past week really made the relevance of those points come back to mind!  As teachers/educators,  we are not only responsible for delivering information but we are extra-responsible to deliver that information in an engaging and inspiring manner to those who have placed their trust in us. It's about inspiring your students to trust and believe not just what you say, but also who you are as someone who speaks with an air of authority and experience without coming off as arrogant or even worse- unbelievable! New and seasoned teachers/educators can all draw something from the points in this episode, you may remember some important lessons and you may learn something new!  All Aboard?

A wonderful conversation with Stacy Anderson and TJ Corbet- two women finding not only therapy but healing  and joy through their art and creativity after brain injury and the "big C".  Art therapy is a very real thing, and over the next 30-something minutes you'll hear how these two amazing humans overcame severe odds to not only rise up but thrive in their artistic expression and also in how to find the simple joys in life with a creative outlook! 

Here's some of my experience gained from writing podcast scripts, radio and social media ads, and from talking to people for more than 30 years as an educator and public speaker.  If you are going to start a podcast but are not sure how to start getting organized, have a listen- I outline my own process from idea, to documenting, recording and editing to create an engaging, interactive and convincing podcast that educates, entertains and inspires my listeners!

Inspired by a real conversation with a musician who instead of learning some new technology and adapting his workflow, decided he should just quit altogether.  I won't let him get away with it! My big take-away is that it's important sometimes to ask ourselves how much we value "traditional ways", especially if they are an impediment! Have a listen, let me know what you think. 

Lacey King is a creator and writer with some very unique perspectives on creativity, inspiration and process.  In this episode, Lacey and I discuss those "subtle energies" which we all know are there, but we have difficulty defining or describing. Call it the Muse, a Vibe, a whisper or a tap on the proverbial shoulder; whatever you call it is unimportant, but how you acknowledge it, foster it and flow with it is super important! And that's what we are discussing in this episode. All Aboard?

This episode ties in to a few others, on developing your unique voice, getting stuck in a creative rut, and asking yourself some very important questions about your work, your process and especially your results. This was inspired by a new music student, who is not new to playing or songwriting, but one who found himself predictably stuck (we ALL get that!) and how he opened up to me about his creativity and goals.  Have a listen and see if any of this fella's issues sound familiar to you, and check out how we started to overcome that "stuck-ness".

This goes beyond your speaking or singing voice; in this episode I'm going into the topic of originality, artistic identity and creative integrity. Just a few small things! This theme comes up often with my music students who want to branch out into songwriting, none of them *want to sound like someone else, but it kinda always happens that their early influences become obvious.  Is this a good or bad thing? Actually, it's totally normal, expected and encouraged, but how do we get past that initial stage? Hop on board to find out!

In this second episode, Daniel and I get into some pretty deep topics such as how people perceive us as artists and how that can affect family dynamics; our roles as mentors and educators, keeping focused and passionate when we feel overwhelmed and how your life inevitably changes from "normal people" mode when you are a full-time artist.    I found this incredibly inspiring and buoying and I hope you do too! 

Daniel Moisan is a renaissance man by every definition.  His life in the visual, musical and performing arts and education has taken him around the world literally and virtually.  This is the first episode of our talk about making a living as an artist; dealing with self-doubt, financial pressures, defining our niche, successes and failures and a lot more!  Whether you are an established or emerging artist, this conversation will certainly give you some very well learned and hard earned advice from someone who is not only living but thriving as an artist.  Find out more at www.danielmoisan.com

I had one of the toughest weeks of my creative career last week as we were without electricity and a vehicle for a week and ALL of my creative projects suddenly came to a halt.  This episode is about how I had to creatively reorganize my routines to keep house and home functional and happy and the silly amount of effort it took me to get back to work once the lights came back on. 

I'm going to share an important realization about this thing we all joke about in our circles of peers. It can be a distraction, a pleasure, and it can be expensive; but other than that- what does having Gear Acquisition Syndrome reveal about us as artists and creators?  I honestly can't laugh this one off anymore!

As tech and AI become seemingly woven into our daily lives, many people are losing their once-respected jobs to these "things" which are supposed to make our lives easier.  In this episode I explore this issue from an educator's perspective; at what cost are to embrace this technological revolution? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

So many new creators equate the cost of their tools with their ability to create, and this is so wrong! Sure, you don't use a hammer to drive a screw, proper tools are necessary; but you should never feel discouraged by not being able to afford high-end tools or that you simply should not even try to create if you don't have the latest/greatest thing talked about online! The history of art is filled with glorious examples of things created with what we would call "primitive tools", the difference is the mind and spirit wielding those tools, not the cost of them! Here, I offer my perspectives on the value of good tools but also the drive to create with whatever we have available to us. If the fire burns hot enough, you'll get cooking!   

In this episode I dig into the topic of A.I. generated art and the impact it already has had on the "real" creative industry.  No, this isn't some guy just complaining about how the good 'ol days were so much better, it's an honest and genuine look into the fact that many creatives are being pushed aside for the apparent ease of using A.I. for their images, sounds and much more.  I would love to know your thoughts on this topic- have a listen and leave a comment!

Timber Masterson is a truly diverse creative. Actor, author, writer, singer/songwriter and dreamer of dreams.  I have had the pleasure of working with Timber for a few years now, as audio engineer, co-producer and consumer of fine coffee.  In this episode, Timber and I discuss the pleasures and pressures that come with living a creative life- grappling with distraction, doubt, dilution, empowerment, inspiration and the Muse, and how we try to hold it all together and look cool to those around us!  Though we talk about some very heavy concepts, we keep it light and listenable for you. 

In this episode, I go into the topic of ego versus experience, and how that can and likely will impact the experience of a creative group setting.  We can fool ourselves, but how far can what we "think" we are take us in a creative venture with others? It will go one of these two ways- we will pull up our creative socks and grow and excel or we will trip over that ego and have to face some harsh realities.  As always, I'm speaking about real-life experiences working both solo and as a collaborative artist. 

Roger Guetta is a multidisciplinary artist currently living in Montreal, Canada.    His early years in the arts were somewhat by accident as he recounts his story of attending business management school. From there, Roger pivoted into theatre, photography, poetry, and eventually into being a professor in a liberal arts program in Quebec, Canada.    Here, Roger and I discuss motivation, inspiration, the momentum of creativity, teaching philosophies, monetizing your art, food, a bit of politics and even our possible immortality as artists and creators and educators.   If you want to tune into this podcast on YouTube, you can watch a lovely montage of some of Roger's recent digital photography, this, is audio-only. 

Singer/songwriter, tattoo artist and nature lover, Cassie Noble stopped by the studio this week to talk about all things artsie, creative and lets us in on a bit of what makes her as an artists running TWO businesses simultaneously does to keep focused and keep those creative fires burning! Sha also performs for us her latest, yet unreleased song; it's a wonderful note-to-self moment about how and where to invest our time and energies.

This episode is just a little check-in and update about some changes I'm going to bring to the Creative Train podcast in 2025. This will be my only upload this month, but stay tuned for lots of great stuff coming up in the new year!    Have a listen, I'm putting out an appeal for your input about guests you'd like to hear on the podcast; artists, educators, anyone creative who has made an impact upon you as a creator or educator or consumer of art in any of it's forms.