Your Creative Mind

Polished creative work starts with messy, uncomfortable first attempts. This episode is one, and that's entirely the point. What would it take for you to pick up a creative practice you've been avoiding live, on mic, in front of your audience?

In this raw, unfiltered episode, Izolda does exactly that. She returns to guitar after months away, mid-episode, imperfect and unpolished. She reflects on grief, creative accountability, and ...

A memorable lesson in setting boundaries, reclaiming artistic focus, and stopping the cycle of overfunctioning in creative leadership roles.

What happens when the creative work you love starts feeling like one more obligation on an already overloaded list? In this episode of the Your Creative Mind podcast, Izolda Trakhtenberg shares a candid story about burnout, leadership, overcommitment, and the surprising power of stepping back....

Why Journalists Make Some of the Most Visionary Fiction Writers

What happens when real-life chaos meets a creative calling you can’t ignore? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda sits down with USA Today bestselling author and longtime cultural journalist Sarah M. Seltzer to explore how storytelling, Jewish feminism, and creative resilience can shape a meaningful artistic life.

You’ll hear practical, heartfelt s...

Every creative entrepreneur who's ever felt guilty taking a day off needs to hear this one specific mindset shift before summer starts.

What does it really mean to choose yourself when the world keeps waiting to choose you first? In this raw, soul-searching episode, host Izolda Trakhtenberg pulls back the curtain on the psychological trap that snares so many creative entrepreneurs — the addiction to being chosen. Through her ...

Practical lessons for performers, writers, and creative entrepreneurs on taking bold creative risks and trusting your artistic instincts on stage and beyond.

What if the way you create, on stage, on the page, or in music, could feel as alive, urgent, and meaningful as a live performance? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda Trakhtenberg shares powerful insights from three unforgettable productions: from live-looped musical...

A heartfelt look at why trusting good news is its own creative challenge and how you can build self-belief one win at a time.

Have you ever wondered why trusting good things can feel harder than handling the tough stuff? In this solo episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda pulls back the curtain on what it’s like to be a multi-passionate creative navigating growth, self-doubt, and the surprising intensity of things finally goin...

What Titanique, Death of a Salesman, The Balusters, and Wolffish teach us about storytelling that wins hearts

Have you ever wondered how seeing great theatre can transform your own creative work? In this quick-take episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda shares candid, heartfelt reviews of four wildly different productions, from powerhouse solo performances to uproarious musical parodies to Broadway heavy-hitters. You’ll hear w...

What happens when your instinct to help others starts draining your creative energy?

Have you ever tried your best to communicate clearly only to realize the other person keeps demanding more, pushing harder, and ignoring your boundaries?

In this episode of Your Creative Mind, I explore the psychology of setting healthy boundaries in creative collaboration, volunteer work, and professional relationships. Through real stories, from ...

What if your voice, singing, speaking, or reading aloud, could change your brain, your mood, and your sense of connection?

This episode explores the science-backed link between creativity, music, and mental wellness, showing how singing together synchronizes heartbeats, activates communication centers of the brain, and restores connection even in Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. You’ll hear how voice, improvisation, a...

What Happens When You Stop Waiting and Start Producing with Rachel Feeny-Williams

How do you build a sustainable creative career when no one is handing you permission? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda Trakhtenberg talks with playwright and producer Rachel Feeny-Williams about fifteen years of writing, self-producing theatre, and getting work seen by real audiences around the world. Listeners will gain practical insigh...

The simple question that protects artists, writers, performers, and creative entrepreneurs from unpaid work What changes when you decide your creativity deserves professional respect and pay?

In this solo episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda Trakhtenberg speaks candidly to writers, musicians, actors, and creative professionals about getting paid, setting boundaries, and refusing the “do it for exposure” narrative. Draw...

Staying Creative in Difficult Times: How to Keep Your Spark When the World Feels Heavy

How can you protect your energy, stay creative, and build meaningful collaborations without burning out? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, I talk with author and activist Kitty Stryker, who has spent over a decade shaping conversations around consent culture, sustainable activism, and healthy creative practices. You’ll learn how to se...

See why sustainable creativity is less about pushing harder and more about supporting your well-being.

What would your creative life look like if your focus felt steady, your ideas flowed more easily, and your work lifted you up instead of wearing you down? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda sits down with Steven Puri, former EVP, Kurtzman/Orci @ DreamWorks Studios and 20th Century Fox VP. His experience working with wor...

If your creative vision feels bigger than your current skills, you’re not failing. You’re growing.

In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda Trakhtenberg shares a powerful insight from playwright Lauren Gunderson that reframes creative hesitation for writers, musicians, actors, and artists. This isn’t about fear of judgment. It’s about artistic skill, vision, and timing. Through personal stories from pla...

For People Who Want Depth, Not Drama and Expression Without Exhaustion

What happens when your creative voice evolves, and you choose to evolve with it?

In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda Trakhtenberg shares why 2026 marks a turning point: a deeper focus on artists, makers, and anyone reclaiming confidence through creative expression. You’ll hear the story behind the new Suit of Voices in the Functional Tarot, a pra...

Al Petteway was arguably one of the top ten guitarists who ever lived. I was also lucky enough to call him a dear friend.

Enjoy this encore episode with a terrific human and a musical master.

New episodes will return in the new year.

This Week's Card to Contemplate: Confidence

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call

New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/9048...

NPR Books Editor Petra Mayer

Petra was a great friend of mine. Tragically, she suddenly passed away in November 2021. Her New York Times Obituary noted her many accomplishments. I called her my dear friend.

Enjoy this encore episode of one of the best people ever.

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call

New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-tra...

Turn Artistic Vision into Real-World Experiences People Can’t Stop Talking About with Liz Yilmaz and Mara Driscoll

How do you create collaborative art that sparks emotion, builds community, and keeps audiences talking long after the performance ends? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda talks with Mara Driscoll and Elizabeth Yilmaz. They are the visionary producers behind Art Bath, an immersive, interdisciplinary per...

Curiosity & Beginner’s Mind and Why They Matter

Have you ever felt like your creativity or focus has dimmed even though you’re doing everything “right”?

In this episode of Your Creative Mind, I explore how curiosity and beginner’s mind can lift that heaviness and help you reconnect with clarity, energy, and authentic creative flow. You’ll learn simple, science-supported ways to spark mental o...