Your Creative Mind

What Watching Mexodus, Schmigadoon, and In The Heights Taught Me About Creative Confidence and Risk-Taking

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 storytelling and Broadway-style spectacle to emotionally charged high school theater. You’ll learn how to build layered creativity in real time, strengthen emotional connection with your audience, and treat your work as an offering that invites collaboration and confidence. If you’re a writer, musician, or performer seeking practical ways to deepen artistic expression, overcome fear of being seen, and create work that resonates, this episode gives you inspiring, real-world creative process strategies you can use immediately.
Reviews on three shows: Mexodus, Schmigadoon, and In The Heights.
Connect with Izolda
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
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This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm.* I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
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Why Generalists Thrive (Even If They Never Feel Like They Do)

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 going well. She shares her evolving playwriting journey, the emotional roller coaster of receiving meaningful feedback, and the unique challenges that come with being a generalist who cares deeply about many artistic paths at once.
If you’ve ever questioned your creative direction or wrestled with second-guessing your own progress, this episode offers comforting perspective and grounded insights into the creative process for multi-hyphenate artists.
Water Mandala
Connect with Izolda
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call
New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm.* I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
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What Four Standout Shows Taught Me About Creative Bravery and Committing on Stage

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 what each show reveals about creative resilience, character embodiment, staging choices, comedic timing, and the courage it takes to fully commit onstage. Through relatable stories (including the realities of live-audience chaos), you’ll gain practical insights to strengthen your storytelling, sharpen your artistic instincts, and stay inspired. Social proof abounds as Izolda highlights award-winning artists and directors who set a high bar for creative excellence. A must-listen for theatre lovers, playwrights, and creative professionals seeking deeper creative mastery.
 
A final quick note: Wolffish was written and performed by Kyle June Williams and directed by Melisa Annis.
 

Why Creative People Struggle to Set Boundaries (And Why It’s Draining Your Creative Energy)

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 helping a stranger on subway stairs to handling an email confrontation, I share practical insights on how protecting your time, energy, and creative focus helps you stay productive and emotionally balanced.
If you’ve ever felt drained by difficult people, this episode will help you recognize when generosity becomes overextension, how to hold firm boundaries without guilt, and why protecting your mental space is essential for sustained creativity, effective communication, and a thriving creative life.
 
Connect with Izolda
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call
New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**
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The Neuroscience of Voice, Creativity, and Human Connection

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, and shared music reduce isolation, support emotional regulation, and strengthen human bonding. Through real experiences at immersive music and neuroscience events, Izolda connects creativity, brain health, and expressive arts in a way you can apply immediately. If you care about creativity and mental health, the neuroscience of music, or using your voice for connection and healing, this conversation will stay with you long after it ends.
 
Soul Paint Avatar update
HeARTbeat at Lincoln Center
Connect with Izolda
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call
New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**
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Rachel Feeny-Williams on Playwriting, Self-Producing, and Theatrical Shenanigans

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 insight into independent playwriting, producing your own work, and using audio drama and podcasting to expand creative reach. Rachel also shares what Theatrical Shenanigans has taught her about community, consistency, and creative momentum. This conversation offers grounded guidance, real-world perspective, and an encouraging reminder that creativity grows through curiosity, confidence, and shared voices.
Connect with Rachel
https://www.rfwscripts.co.uk/https://theatricalshenanigans.podbean.com/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069571340912https://newplayexchange.org/users/60206/rachel-feeny-williams
Connect with Izolda
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call
New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**
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Getting Paid Is Part of the Art

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. Drawing on decades of real-world experience, Izolda shares practical language for negotiating creative work, mindset shifts that build authority and consistency, and stories that show why professionalism protects both your art and your energy. You’ll gain confidence around rates, contracts, and saying no without apology, while still choosing when generosity truly serves you. This episode supports sustainable creative careers, confident self-advocacy, and treating artistry as meaningful, paid work.
Your card for this week:
Connect with Izolda
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call
New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**
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Creativity, Boundaries, and Sustainable Activism with Author Kitty Stryker

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 set boundaries that honor your work, pace yourself so your creativity stays strong, and choose your battles with intention. Kitty also shares practical strategies for balancing art and activism, collaborating with respect, and finding joy even when the world feels heavy. If you’re a writer, artist, or changemaker seeking ways to sustain your creativity, this conversation offers tools and inspiration to help you live with more curiosity, confidence, and compassion.
https://thornapplepress.com 
https://kittystryker.com/ 
http://medium.com/@kittystryker 
https://trash-panda-periodical.ghost.io/ 
https://bsky.app/profile/kittystryker.bsky.social 
https://www.facebook.com/officiallykittystryker 
https://thornapplepress.ca/books/love-rebels/
This week's card
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Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series
 https://crossroads.consulting/ 
This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**
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Flow States That Hold You Up: Steven Puri on Sustainable Creative Focus

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 world-class filmmakers offers powerful lessons for anyone seeking sustainable, high-creativity practices.
Steven shares the mental strategies and healthy-productivity habits top artists use to stay inspired, avoid burnout, and build long-lasting creative momentum. You’ll gain actionable tools for strengthening your attention, navigating distraction overload, and designing a workflow rooted in well-being.
If you’re committed to a life of creativity, curiosity, and confidence, this conversation will keep you moving forward with purpose.
Connect with Steven
https://www.thesukha.co/ 
Connect with Izolda
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call
New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
 

Beyond Fear: How Skill Awareness Shapes Creative Confidence

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 playwriting, songwriting, and performance, Izolda explores how creative confidence is built draft by draft, note by note. You’ll gain a practical mindset for moving past creative paralysis, honoring your current abilities, and trusting the process of artistic growth. If you’re wrestling with writer’s block, unfinished projects, or the question “am I good enough yet?”, this episode offers clarity, permission, and a path forward that is grounded in experience, generosity, and creative leadership.
This week's card to contemplate 
Listen to the episode to learn what to meditate on.
Connect with Izolda
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call
New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**
Listen on These Channels
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | MyTuner | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Deezer | Overcast | PodChaser | Listen Notes | Player FM | Podcast Addict | Podcast Republic |
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