Create Art Podcast

I'm moving the Rough Sketch show to once a month because life (clients, interviews, and general chaos) is loud, and I'm using that extra space to go back to poetry — the thing that actually hooked me on art. I'm Timothy Kimo Brien, your resident instigator, and this episode is me dusting off 12 steno pads, putting pen to paper, and reading a rough sketch called "Going Back" that leans on jazz, nostalgia, and the messy, beautiful return to simplicity. The poem walks through late-night weariness, a mausoleum of depression, and the small ritual of scratching thoughts down as both warning and salvation — basically me trying to send postcards to myself from places I shouldn't have left. I talk about why prompts didn't stick, how I decided no prompt was needed, and why editing in a new way helped the work breathe. Stick around for the pieces I read, give me your honest take, and take this as your friendly nudge to tame that inner critic: create more than you consume, write a poem about what you're going through, and maybe share it with me. I'll catch you next month — same chaos, more poems.
Poem:
Going Back
6 Sept 2026

The record spins
The arm lifts up,
over, gracefully
I am back to 1992
Looking at the hard-fought bags
under my bloodshot eyes
Aching body
Aching mind
Vision is blurry
Daily meditation done
French lesson done
The house encompasses us all,
creaks and moans
As the weather changes from an unforgiving summer
To the wet and dreary fall
And I am looking at boxes
piled up for recycling
Making a modern art sculpture
Unfinished diamond painting
Brushes hardened by dry acrylic paint
and empty canvases
Twelve steno pads wait
to become memorials
to my thoughts
That I dare not share with my loved ones
I’ve isolated myself
from the rest of my home
I have created a mausoleum of depression
There are no tickets for sale
Remarkably,
there is no line a mile long to enter
So I feel the only way
to fill the gaping hole
in my soul
Is to go back to the beginning
Jazz playing in the background
Living vicariously
through the disciples
of hard bop and cool
Pen to paper,
releasing inner struggles
Scratching my thoughts
Not as a user manual
But as a warning
A warning of what not to become
Letting the subconscious
out of its self-imposed prison
To feel the sunlight
that finds its way into my cave
Timidly, trembling, cautiously
I’m going back
to when I thought simplicity
Was the way to be
To find the decisions that led me
To a place where I was
Or should have been
Content
And remake those choices to stay there
I’m going back
So I can send postcards
to myself
From where I should have never left
How do I get such great guests?
PodMatch I use Podmatch to get the best guests on the show. Check out PodMatch if you want to be a guest on other podcasts or if you have a podcast and need guests for your show. Guests from Podmatch
Want to be a guest on Create Art Podcast? Send Timothy Brien a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/createartpodcast
Make Sharing your podcast easier
Use Podcast Beacon for the best NFS products to share your podcast while out and about or at conferences.

Reach Out To The Podcast
To reach out to me, email timothy@createartpodcast.com I would love to hear about your journey and what you are working on. If you would like to be on the show or have me discuss a topic that is giving you trouble write in and let's start that conversation.
Email: timothy@createartpodcast.com
YouTube Channel: Create Art Podcast YT Channel
IG: @createartpodcast
Twitter: @createartpod
Create Art Podcast Hotline ‪(540) 300-1793‬
SpeakPipe

Create Art Podcast Newsletter
timothybrien.substack.com
Special Message
If you have found value in this podcast, please share it with a friend, as that is the best way to discover new podcasts. I want this to be a 5-star podcast in your eyes, so let me know what you would like to see.
Speaking about sharing with a friend, check out my other podcast Find A Podcast About where I help you outsmart the algorithm and find your next binge-worthy podcast. You can find that podcast at findapodcastabout.xyz.
For all of my projects, check out my portfolio website TKBPodcaststudio.com, where I help my clients through quiet professionalism lead through the noise.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

As October arrives, nature enters a deliberate cycle of rest and preparation—yet human creators often respond with end-of-year panic and frantic hustle. In the premiere episode of The Sustainable Shift, Timothy makes the case for The Slow Season. Discover why stepping back from relentless output isn't quitting, but rather essential infrastructure for long-term, sustainable creativity. Plus, an update on the "One Project" challenge and how you can join in.
In this episode:
Why October is the ideal month to reject end-of-year pressure and embrace quiet focus.
The danger of treating creativity like a factory floor that never closes for maintenance.
How to build creative boundaries that protect your energy and prevent burnout.
An invitation to commit to your "One Project" for the rest of the year.

Resources & Links:
Submit your "One Project" commitment: Email timothy@createartpodcast.com or call the hotline at (540) 300-1793.
Explore our studio and past work: Visit tkbpodcaststudio.com.

How do I get such great guests?
PodMatch I use Podmatch to get the best guests on the show. Check out PodMatch if you want to be a guest on other podcasts or if you have a podcast and need guests for your show. Guests from Podmatch
Want to be a guest on Create Art Podcast? Send Timothy Brien a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/createartpodcast
Make Sharing your podcast easier
Use Podcast Beacon for the best NFS products to share your podcast while out and about or at conferences.

Reach Out To The Podcast

To reach out to me, email timothy@createartpodcast.com I would love to hear about your journey and what you are working on. If you would like to be on the show or have me discuss a topic that is giving you trouble write in and let's start that conversation.

Email: timothy@createartpodcast.com
YouTube Channel: Create Art Podcast YT Channel
IG: @createartpodcast
Twitter: @createartpod
Create Art Podcast Hotline ‪(540) 300-1793‬
SpeakPipe

Create Art Podcast Newsletter
timothybrien.substack.com
Special Message

If you have found value in this podcast, please share it with a friend, as that is the best way to discover new podcasts. I want this to be a 5-star podcast in your eyes, so let me know what you would like to see.
Speaking about sharing with a friend, check out my other podcast Find A Podcast About where I help you outsmart the algorithm and find your next binge-worthy podcast. You can find that podcast at findapodcastabout.xyz.
For all of my projects, check out my portfolio website TKBPodcaststudio.com, where I help my clients through quiet professionalism lead through the noise.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

In the final episode of Create Anyway: You’re Allowed to Make Art, we explore a powerful question that many artists avoid: What if what you’ve done is already enough?
Throughout this series, we’ve talked about fear, identity, time, responsibility, and creative pressure. But at the center of all of it is a deeper tension — the belief that we are always behind, always lacking, always needing more before our work “counts.”
This episode challenges that belief.
If you’ve ever felt like:
You’re not good enough yet
You started too late
You should be further along
Your work doesn’t measure up

This conversation will help you reframe success and reconnect with why you started creating in the first place.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why artists constantly chase “more” and rarely feel satisfied
How to redefine success without external validation
The importance of recognizing progress and effort
Letting go of comparison and unrealistic expectations
Creating from a place of fulfillment instead of pressure

This episode is for:
New artists starting later in life
Creatives balancing art with full-time careers
Anyone feeling behind or discouraged in their creative journey
Artists struggling with perfectionism and comparison

1. The Endless Chase for “More”
Many artists believe fulfillment is always one step ahead
More skill, more time, more recognition, more output
The danger: never feeling like what you’ve done is enough

2. Redefining Success on Your Terms
Success doesn’t have to mean monetization, audience, or scale
For many, success is simply: you didn’t quit
Finishing something, showing up, and continuing counts

3. The Quiet Value of Showing Up
Most growth isn’t dramatic — it’s subtle and cumulative
The act of returning to your art matters more than outcomes
You’ve already done something most people never do: you started

4. Letting Go of Comparison
There will always be someone ahead, faster, more visible
Comparison keeps moving the goalpost
Peace comes from focusing on your relationship with your work

5. Enough Doesn’t Mean Done
Accepting “enough” doesn’t mean you stop growing
It means you stop withholding satisfaction until some future version of yourself
You can continue creating from a place of fulfillment instead of lack

How do I get such great guests?
PodMatch I use Podmatch to get the best guests on the show. Check out PodMatch if you want to be a guest on other podcasts or if you have a podcast and need guests for your show. Guests from Podmatch
Want to be a guest on Create Art Podcast? Send Timothy Brien a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/createartpodcast
Make Sharing your podcast easier
Use Podcast Beacon for the best NFS products to share your podcast while out and about or at conferences.

Reach Out To The Podcast

To reach out to me, email timothy@createartpodcast.com I would love to hear about your journey and what you are working on. If you would like to be on the show or have me discuss a topic that is giving you trouble write in and let's start that conversation.

Email: timothy@createartpodcast.com
YouTube Channel: Create Art Podcast YT Channel
IG: @createartpodcast
Twitter: @createartpod
Create Art Podcast Hotline ‪(540) 300-1793‬
SpeakPipe https://www.speakpipe.com/Create_Art_Podcast_Hotline

Create Art Podcast Newsletter
timothybrien.substack.com
Special Message

If you have found value in this podcast, please share it with a friend, as that is the best way to discover new podcasts. I want this to be a 5-star podcast in your eyes, so let me know what you would like to see.
Speaking about sharing with a friend, check out my other podcast Find A Podcast About where I help you outsmart the algorithm and find your next binge-worthy podcast. You can find that podcast at findapodcastabout.xyz.
For all of my projects, check out my portfolio website TKBPodcaststudio.com, where I help my clients through quiet professionalism lead through the noise.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

We live in a world that screams for more—more output, more hustle, and more noise. But the most enduring work isn't born from the noise; it’s born from the quiet.
In this special trailer episode, Timothy introduces the upcoming season of the Create Art Podcast: The Sustainable Shift.
Starting this October, we are moving away from the "more-is-better" mindset. Instead, we’re focusing on Sustainable Creativity—finding a way to create that lasts as long as you do. We’ll be exploring the necessity of Reframing Failure as valuable data, and we are launching the "One Project" challenge: a call to commit to just one creative goal, free from the pressures of monetization or public performance.
If you’re ready to protect your energy, reclaim your practice, and create more than you consume, join us for the new season starting in October 2026.
In this episode:
The mission behind The Sustainable Shift season.
Why we are moving beyond "hustle culture" to prioritize long-term, sustainable craft.
An introduction to the "One Project" challenge and how you can participate.

Submit your "One Project" commitment: Email timothy@createartpodcast.com or call the hotline at (540) 300-1793.

How do I get such great guests?
PodMatch I use Podmatch to get the best guests on the show. Check out PodMatch if you want to be a guest on other podcasts or if you have a podcast and need guests for your show. Guests from Podmatch
Want to be a guest on Create Art Podcast? Send Timothy Brien a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/createartpodcast
Make Sharing your podcast easier
Use Podcast Beacon for the best NFS products to share your podcast while out and about or at conferences.

Reach Out To The Podcast

To reach out to me, email timothy@createartpodcast.com I would love to hear about your journey and what you are working on. If you would like to be on the show or have me discuss a topic that is giving you trouble write in and let's start that conversation.

Email: timothy@createartpodcast.com
YouTube Channel: Create Art Podcast YT Channel
IG: @createartpodcast
Twitter: @createartpod
Create Art Podcast Hotline ‪(540) 300-1793‬
SpeakPipe

Create Art Podcast Newsletter
timothybrien.substack.com
Special Message

If you have found value in this podcast, please share it with a friend, as that is the best way to discover new podcasts. I want this to be a 5-star podcast in your eyes, so let me know what you would like to see.
Speaking about sharing with a friend, check out my other podcast Find A Podcast About where I help you outsmart the algorithm and find your next binge-worthy podcast. You can find that podcast at findapodcastabout.xyz.
For all of my projects, check out my portfolio website TKBPodcaststudio.com, where I help my clients through quiet professionalism lead through the noise.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Why is it so hard to create after a long day? In this episode of Create Anyway, we explore the real reason so many artists struggle to stay consistent—and it’s not laziness.
If you’ve ever felt too exhausted to create, battled burnout, or questioned your discipline, this episode will help you understand the relationship between energy, creativity, and rest. Learn how to build a sustainable creative practice even when life is demanding.
This episode is for artists balancing full-time jobs, family responsibilities, and the desire to create something meaningful without burning out.

1. You’re Not Lazy—You’re Depleted
There’s a difference between avoiding your art and not having the energy for it
Mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion all impact creativity
Many artists mislabel burnout as lack of discipline

2. Creative Energy Is Not Infinite
Creativity draws from the same reserves as your job, family, and responsibilities
If you give everything away during the day, nothing is left at night
Recognizing your limits is part of sustaining a creative life

3. You Don’t Need Full Energy to Create
The myth: “I need a full tank to make something meaningful”
Reality: small, low-effort creative acts still count
Showing up at 30% consistently beats waiting for 100%

4. Rest Is Part of the Process
Rest isn’t the opposite of creating—it fuels it
Stepping away can lead to better ideas and clearer thinking
Burnout kills more art than failure ever will

5. Build a Life That Supports Your Creativity
Systems > motivation
Creating routines that respect your energy levels
Protecting time AND energy for your art

How do I get such great guests?
PodMatch I use Podmatch to get the best guests on the show. Check out PodMatch if you want to be a guest on other podcasts or if you have a podcast and need guests for your show. Guests from Podmatch
Want to be a guest on Create Art Podcast? Send Timothy Brien a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/createartpodcast
Make Sharing your podcast easier
Use Podcast Beacon for the best NFS products to share your podcast while out and about or at conferences.

Reach Out To The Podcast

To reach out to me, email timothy@createartpodcast.com I would love to hear about your journey and what you are working on. If you would like to be on the show or have me discuss a topic that is giving you trouble write in and let's start that conversation.

Email: timothy@createartpodcast.com
YouTube Channel: Create Art Podcast YT Channel
IG: @createartpodcast
Twitter: @createartpod
Create Art Podcast Hotline ‪(540) 300-1793‬
SpeakPipe https://www.speakpipe.com/Create_Art_Podcast_Hotline

Create Art Podcast Newsletter
timothybrien.substack.com
Special Message

If you have found value in this podcast, please share it with a friend, as that is the best way to discover new podcasts. I want this to be a 5-star podcast in your eyes, so let me know what you would like to see.
Speaking about sharing with a friend, check out my other podcast Find A Podcast About where I help you outsmart the algorithm and find your next binge-worthy podcast. You can find that podcast at findapodcastabout.xyz.
For all of my projects, check out my portfolio website TKBPodcaststudio.com, where I help my clients through quiet professionalism lead through the noise.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy