Your Creative Mind

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/ 
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Website: https://IzoldaT.com
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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
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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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What is Doing Your Best Right Now? A Creative Check-In for 2026

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 practical tool for reflection, communication, and inner clarity. Izolda also offers a grounding breathing practice and a powerful question: Are you doing your best right now? It's designed to help you step out of overwhelm and into intentional choice.
If you care about creative confidence, artistic growth, mindful decision-making, and practical tools for navigating drama without losing your voice, this episode is for you.
This week's card to contemplate: Drama
 
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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Encore: Grammy Award Winner, Al Petteway on art, artistry, and living the creative life

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/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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Encore: The Excellent Petra Mayer (NPR Books Editor) on Writing, Representation, and Keeping Things Real

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-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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Art Bath: How Immersive Art Sparks Emotion, Community, and Conversation

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 performance salon showcased by Lincoln Center, 92NY, and many other institutions. You’ll learn practical strategies for building trust in the creative process, developing meaningful artistic collaborations, and creating immersive art experiences that foster human connection. Their work proves that when artists support artists, everyone rises, which is an essential reminder for creatives, entrepreneurs, and leaders who want to communicate with confidence and purpose. If you’re seeking long-lasting creative inspiration and actionable ideas to elevate your next project, this conversation will give you tools to grow, connect, and create with courage.
www.artbathnyc.com
https://www.instagram.com/artbathnyc/
Mara Driscoll
Mara Driscoll is a creative producer, curator, arts administrator, and artist. As Co-Founder and Producer of Art Bath with Elizabeth Yilmaz, she has collaborated with and presented more than 300 artists across disciplines, including leading figures in music, dance, opera, theater, and visual art. Through Art Bath, she has co-curated programs presented by Lincoln Center, 92NY, the Prototype Festival, Fotografiska, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and more.
Mara also serves as Program and Advancement Manager for the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA), a global network of 500 performing arts leaders across 60 countries. In this role, she oversees several of ISPA’s key initiatives, including the Pitch New Works and Fellowship programs.
Before turning her focus to producing, Mara spent years as a professional dancer and choreographer. She is a longtime member of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, and her choreography has been presented by New York Theatre Workshop, The Phillips Collection, and New Chamber Ballet.
She holds a degree from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, where she focused on intersections between art, religion, and society.
 
Liz Yilmaz
Elizabeth Yilmaz is a professional dancer, educator, and producer based in New York City. Elizabeth is a former member of Ballet Hispánico and a longtime dancer with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet.
She holds a B.A. in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College and completed Harvard Business School’s Crossover Into Business program in 2024.
As a dedicated dance educator, Elizabeth is on faculty at both The 92nd Street Y (92NY) and the Joffrey Ballet Trainee Program. She is also the co-founder and producer of Art Bath NYC, an immersive, multidisciplinary salon series launched in 2022 with fellow dancer Mara Driscoll. Art Bath brings together musicians, dancers, poets, opera singers, and visual artists to create innovative performance experiences.
Notable Art Bath collaborators include the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the Prototype Festival, 92NY, Fotografiska New York, and now Lincoln Center's Festival of Firsts.
 
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 Spark Behind Your Best Work and a More Meaningful Life

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 openness, strengthen emotional presence, and rebuild momentum in your projects, storytelling, and personal growth journey.
I also share practical tools for expanding your creative thinking skills, nurturing a more mindful work process, and cultivating everyday curiosity so you feel more aligned with your purpose. If you’ve been craving meaningful shifts in your creative life, this episode offers a grounded path forward.
This week's Human Journey Method Card:
Attraction
 
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
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Meditation as a Power-Up: Teaching Kids Calm, Confidence, and Creativity with Veronica Moya

Learn how mindfulness practices for children can transform how your family or team handles stress, builds focus, and fuels creative flow.
What if teaching your child mindfulness could make your whole family calmer, more creative, and more connected? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda talks with Veronica Moya, author of Goom Finds His Happy Place and founder of Mindful V, about how meditation can help kids build emotional resilience, confidence, and genuine self-love. You’ll hear practical ways to bring mindfulness into your home—even if you’ve never meditated before—and learn how these small daily habits spark focus, empathy, and peace for both kids and parents. If you’re a parent, teacher, or anyone who wants to nurture creativity and calm in the next generation, this conversation offers real-world inspiration you can start using today.
Connect with Veronica
https://veronicamoya.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@VeronicaMoya
https://www.instagram.com/veronicamoyacoach/
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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Managing Holiday Pressure with These Fab Techniques

Reduce holiday stress and navigate family tension with writing and storytelling
The holidays are meant to be joyful, but for many of us, they bring stress, overwhelm, and tricky family dynamics. What if there was a simple way to feel calmer, clearer, and more in control without rearranging your entire schedule? Today, we’ll explore how writing and storytelling can do exactly that. You’ll learn practical techniques to release tension, process emotions, and even turn stressful moments into meaningful insights. Imagine finishing a hectic day feeling lighter, more centered, and confident in handling whatever comes next. If managing holiday stress is important to you, and if you want a tool that actually works, you’re in the right place.
This week's card
Connect with Izolda
Get exclusive content and bonus podcast episodes when you join my Patreon.
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.
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New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
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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If Not Now, When? Starting Over and Embracing Creative Confidence After 50

Why I’m Just Getting Started: Creativity, Courage, and Confidence in My Late 50s
What if the best years of your creativity, courage, and confidence are still ahead of you? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, I share my story of directing my very first play on a $50 budget, returning to theater decades later, and reflecting on what shows like And Just Like That reveal (and sometimes miss) about women over fifty choosing their own path. For me, starting fresh in my fifties isn’t about crisis. It’s about joy, freedom, and saying, if not now, when? If you’re reimagining your career, pursuing a long-held dream, or just craving inspiration to take action on what matters most, you’ll hear why I believe we’re never done creating. We’re just getting started.
Get exclusive content and bonus podcast episodes when you join my Patreon.
Connect with me
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.
Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call
New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
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!**