Artists for Joy

Artists for Joy is a space for creative people to reconnect with that joy that made them want to be an artist in the first place. Join host Merideth Hite Estevez and special guests as they debunk the "tortured artist" stereotype and explore how the creative life can be sustainable...how being an artist needn't be a life of pain and turmoil...that we can choose joy. New episodes go live every Friday!

203: Joy Sessions: Perfectionism (Carrie) 11/22/2024

203: Joy Sessions: Perfectionism (Carrie) In today’s Joy Session, Merideth pulls back the curtain on creative coaching with Carrie who is longing to finish her memoir. They explore how finding the right tool at the right time is central to overcoming fears of not being good enough and making progress that feels sustainable and joyful. Carrie leaves with two new practices that will help her shift her lens around writing and surrender to the power of the creative process. /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/34082396

202: Q&A: Burnout, Gratitude, Spirituality, and more 11/15/2024

202: Q&A: Burnout, Gratitude, Spirituality, and more This week on the podcast, Ask Merideth Anything! Merideth answers listener questions about creativity, burnout, parenting, and spirituality. You'll learn how to meet the inner artist's resistance with compassion, recognize creative burnout, and explore the intersection of artistic expression and spiritual practice. She shares insights on cultivating gratitude and creativity in children and navigating the challenges of parenting young artists. Merideth reflects on her evolving definition of success, and the episode concludes with a message of encouragement for listeners who are struggling at this moment in time. This one is full of wholehearted honesty and encouragement. Email your question to be answered in future AMAs: [email protected] /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/33940222

201: Beyond Self-Criticism: Take the Wheel 11/08/2024

201: Beyond Self-Criticism: Take the Wheel This week, Merideth shares a vulnerable story of a recent self-hatred spiral. She explores how and why artists are particularly hard on themselves. If you've ever wondered if your mistakes are moral failings, this one is for you. Merideth gives practical advice for when you are stuck and shares how turning up the voices of self-compassion in the face of shame is crucial for sustainable growth and change. /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/33842392

200: We are not alone 11/01/2024

200: We are not alone Celebrate 200 episodes of Artist for Joy with listeners offering their best advice for artists + something they've learned from Artists for Joy. Merideth also shares what to do when you're hesitant to celebrate, reflections on finding your voice, a surprise peek into an early recording, and more. What a joyful ride! Thank you for listening. Here's to the next 200! /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/33724902

199: Joyful Mashup 10/25/2024

199: Joyful Mashup This week on the podcast, Merideth celebrates (almost) 200 episodes by looking back on everything we've learned in joyful mashup form! Listen for a turbo-sized creative pep talk, a love letter to you, my podcast listeners. <3 /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/33607462

198: 10 things bringing me joy this fall 10/18/2024

198: 10 things bringing me joy this fall This week on the podcast, I’ve got 10 things that are bringing me joy this fall. Some are deep and others may, at first glance, seem trivial, but this collection of what’s bringing me joy adds up to a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts: in a profoundly simple way, these small wonders are saving my life in this season. By consciously bringing good things to mind, we teach our brains to look for the good, and we relive those joyful moments through the remembering. Hit reply and let me know what's bringing you joy these days! Links: (some are Affiliate, which means I make a few dollars when you purchase) /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/33507842

197: Throwback: How can we go on? 10/11/2024

197: Throwback: How can we go on? This episode originally aired in October 2023. Enjoy this throwback while Merideth practices some self-care ;) Original Show Notes: This week on the show, Merideth answers a question we all tend to ask when the world is on fire. How can I feel creative joy in the face of violence, injustice, and brokenness? She explores why art matters in these moments, especially, and how our creativity offers us a place to process the pain and turn our anxiety into energy that can make a difference. The late famous conductor, Leonard Bernstein, answers the age-old question, “How can we go on?” and we learn about two fantastic non-profits using creativity to change the world. Email your question to be read on the air: [email protected] Photo cred: littlesun.org /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/33409117

196: Joy Sessions: Authenticity (Christina) 10/04/2024

196: Joy Sessions: Authenticity (Christina) In today’s podcast, the final installment of our Joy Sessions series, Merideth chats with Christina, a musician, coach, and teacher who wants to reexamine the beliefs and negative inner dialogue she’s been having about performing. They explore perfectionism, performance anxiety, how to show up authentically when we cannot stop judging ourselves, and so much more. By the end of the call, Christina begins to give herself permission to live out the advice she offers her students, to embrace and enjoy the very human and authentic experience of making music, and to offer herself self-compassion along the way. /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/33316757

195: Joy Sessions: Process over Product (Mara) 09/27/2024

195: Joy Sessions: Process over Product (Mara) This week’s episode features a Joy Session with Mara, a writer who wants to write a novel but struggles to find the time or energy. We watch Mara identify the underlying reasons for her creative block, including fear of failure and too much focus on the product rather than the process. She names a deep desire for community and encouragement from other writers. BONUS: At the end of this week's episode, Merideth shares an update from Mara about a week or so after the session, naming how an epiphany renewed her hope and motivation to continue pursuing her creative writing goals. Links: /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/33226662

194: Joy Sessions: The Discipline Button (Jessi) 09/20/2024

194: Joy Sessions: The Discipline Button (Jessi) Continuing our new series, Joy Sessions, I chat with Jessi, a musician and educator who reflects on how, as a multipassionate artist, she could engage with music in a more meaningful way. We explore the idea of experimentation and taking small, sustainable steps towards this goal, recognizing the need for a different kind of energy than the usual "discipline button" approach. The conversation highlights the importance of keeping the thread of musical engagement alive through exploration and connection, allowing for a more fulfilling and sustainable relationship with the art form. If you are interested in doing a coaching call for a future Joy Sessions episode, click . Links from the show notes: /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/33128597

193: Joy Sessions: Intentionality (Ericka) 09/13/2024

193: Joy Sessions: Intentionality (Ericka) Introducing: Joy Sessions. Each week I'll feature excerpts from real sessions with artists of all disciplines, pulling back the curtain on creative coaching as we focus on overcoming creative challenges and finding joy in the artistic process. This week, Merideth chats with Ericka, a writer who longs to set herself free from the shame cycle of past and current criticism. /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/33022782

#192: Art's Open Door-- The Spiritual Song of Created Things 09/06/2024

#192: Art's Open Door-- The Spiritual Song of Created Things This week on the podcast, the first installment of a new series started earlier this week over on Substack called “Art’s Open Door,” where we’ll explore the profound ways creativity and spirituality intersect and how viewing art through a spiritual lens is a powerful tool for well-being, connection, and joy. Usually, these essays will only exist in blog form at but this week, I am giving you a sneak peek into this new content. If you enjoy these more spiritual writings, subscribe to Substack /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/32936787

#191: Musical Meditation for Making Sense of Life 08/30/2024

#191: Musical Meditation for Making Sense of Life This week on the podcast: a musical meditation for making sense of life. In this guided reflection, explore the following: Consider your life’s puzzle. Hold a couple of pieces in your hand, and consider now the growth that each piece represents. What do you see? Look for the piece(s) that don’t seem to fit. What experiences or areas of growth or interest, disparate parts of your journey of life–good or hard—have you yet to accept as your own? Even though you may not yet be able to make sense of certain pieces, ask: what might they be teaching me? Find the jagged edge of the puzzle, and consider the ways you are growing, the piece you are filling in now. How can you love yourself as you are becoming? What do you want yourself to remember now, in this season? Links from the show notes: /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/32803612

#190: Making Sense of Life 08/23/2024

#190: Making Sense of Life This week on the podcast, a new metaphor to cultivate more resilience, perspective, and joy while we work to make sense of our lives. /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/32691782

#189: Time Management Pep-Talk 08/16/2024

#189: Time Management Pep-Talk This week on the podcast, Merideth offers a pep talk for artists and creatives who feel overwhelmed or unmotivated, particularly during transitional periods like the month of August. Grab your , so you can: Name your season Decide if you need a new routine or rhythm (or both!) Discover the small step you'd like to take toward your goal /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/32594457

#188: 3 Q's for when you're procrastinating 08/09/2024

#188: 3 Q's for when you're procrastinating This week Merideth offers some strategies to overcome procrastination to embrace a more joyful and fulfilling creative life. She offers 3 common lies we tell ourselves when we are having a hard time getting things done: I'm lazy. I just need the right routine. I'll wait for inspiration to feel motivated. She then translates these less-than-helpful thought patterns into questions to unlock what we really need to keep moving. Leave a review of Merideth's book: and /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/32508572

#187: Throwback--How to Celebrate 08/02/2024

#187: Throwback--How to Celebrate Back from the first leg of her book tour, Merideth shares a little about how she’s still learning how to celebrate in this throwback from October 2022. Original show notes: Why is it so much easier to celebrate the accomplishments of others than it is our own? Merideth shares two things she is forcing herself to celebrate these days and why she believes celebration should be a core value for every artist. /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/32392097

#186: "The Mother Artist" with Catherine Ricketts 07/26/2024

#186: "The Mother Artist" with Catherine Ricketts Catherine Ricketts, essayist, songwriter, writing instructor, and author of The Mother Artist: Portraits of Ambition, Limitation, and Creativity, is my guest today. We talk about: The historical underrepresentation of mothers in the art world and the societal factors contributing to this. The tension between caring for children and dedicating time to creative work. The importance of support systems, self-belief, and a sense of purpose for mothers. The value of art created by mothers and how we can all support all caregivers in their creative pursuits. /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/32267562

#185: "I joyfully swear to forgive myself." 07/19/2024

#185: "I joyfully swear to forgive myself." In the final installment of this inspiring series, Robin White, Joshua Long, Lorrie Fredette, and Merideth Hite Estevez read their Artist's Oath. The culmination of Merideth's book, "The Artist's Joy," the Artist's Oath is a powerful coaching exercise that helps artists name how they want to show up in the world and what they believe. When we stay connected to our values, we are able to move through creative challenges and tough decisions with confidence and grace for ourselves and others. In this episode: ( /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/32038872

184: "I joyfully swear to make the art." 07/12/2024

184: "I joyfully swear to make the art." This episode features Artist's Oaths, written and read by Elmer Perry, David Westerlund, Sara McMahon, and Sila Wolf. The culmination of Merideth's book, "The Artist's Joy," the Artist's Oath is a powerful coaching exercise that helps artists name how they want to show up in the world and what they believe. When we stay connected to our values, we are able to move through creative challenges and tough decisions with confidence and grace for ourselves and others. In this episode: Sara McMahon's and /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/32037092

#183: "I joyfully swear to be my own hero." 07/05/2024

#183: "I joyfully swear to be my own hero." This episode features Artist's Oath's written and read by Kelsey Bogan, David James, and Karen Rege. The culmination of Merideth's book, "The Artist's Joy," the Artist's Oath is a powerful coaching exercise that helps artists name how they want to show up in the world and what they believe. When we stay connected to our values, we are able to move through creative challenges and tough decisions with confidence and grace for ourselves and others. About the artists in this episode: Kelsey Bogan: David James: Karen Rege: /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/32012412

#182: "Oath to Joy," Music and Community with Angela Sheik 06/28/2024

#182: "Oath to Joy," Music and Community with Angela Sheik In today's episode, Merideth chats with artist, composer, and songwriter Angela Sheik. Angela (whose name you may recognize from every episode's credits as our resident theme songwriter here at Artists for Joy) composed a full-length anthemic jam for Merideth's new book "The Artist's Joy." In this episode, you'll hear the complete track for the first time! They also discuss how central community is in finding sustainable creative practice and what to do when you feel like quitting. "The Artist's Joy" theme song, "Oath to Joy," will be available to stream and download in August, but for now, enjoy this world premiere here on the podcast. /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/31922952

#181 "The Artist's Joy" Deep Dive, with special guest Kenneth Moton 06/21/2024

#181 "The Artist's Joy" Deep Dive, with special guest Kenneth Moton This week on the podcast, Merideth gives the mic to Kenneth Moton, a TV news journalist and childhood friend, and together they dive deep into her new book, The Artist's Joy. Kenneth and "Meri" explore the book's relevance to a broad audience, Meri's motivation for writing the book, her journey of creative recovery, and the concept of using creativity as a means of self-discovery. They explore themes of vulnerability, the healing power of music, and the spiritual dimension of creativity. /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/31831532

#180: Why Joy? 06/14/2024

#180: Why Joy? This week, I am reading an excerpt from The Artist's Joy-- this time from the Prelude (that's what I call the Introduction) of the book. I explore why I believe seeking joy is a worthwhile pursuit for all people, but especially artists, as well as more about my “why” behind the book and who exactly it is for. (Hint: its for you!) Give it a listen and if you can, would you mind sharing this episode with a friend who might enjoy it? I'd really appreciate it. Links: Merideth's book: /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/31742867

#179: Imposter Syndrome: 5 C's of Inner Strength 06/07/2024

#179: Imposter Syndrome: 5 C's of Inner Strength Do you ever worry they will figure out you actually have no idea what you are doing? Studies show that imposter syndrome, the feeling of being a fraud despite evidence of success, affects everyone. It reared its ugly (and soul-sucking) head in my life this week during one of the busiest times of my career, maybe ever. And so here's what I did: I sat down and wrote a podcast that we could all hopefully learn from. This week’s episode— The 5 C's of Inner Strength: Confide in someone Cultivate consistent practice Offer Compassion to others and yourself Consider the "spotlight effect" Craft your worthiness words. My hope for us is that we'll remember our value and embrace the joy and hope in the creative journey. Links: Merideth's book: /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/31641817

#178: Joy for the Long Haul 05/31/2024

#178: Joy for the Long Haul This week, Merideth chats with two fellow writers, Sarah E. Westfall and Jenai Auman. They explore ways to foster joy for the long haul as they discuss their experiences writing and publishing their first traditionally published books together. (They come out within weeks of each other!) Merideth, Sarah, and Jenai emphasize the importance of community, celebrating milestones, and managing vulnerability, and offer encouragement for finding joy in the creative process itself and staying true to oneself despite challenges. Merideth's book: Jenai's book: Sarah's book: /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/31542172

#177: Your Creative Devotion Routine 05/24/2024

#177: Your Creative Devotion Routine This week, Merideth reads an excerpt from Chapter 3, "Ode to Creative Devotion," from her forthcoming book, The Artist's Joy. THE most important tool for creative joy (after taking care of yourself) is the creative devotion routine. Are you in a practice rut? Too busy to create in this season of life? Do you have a time management challenge? Maybe you’re good at getting things done, but you feel like you’re going through the motions—joyless and blocked? Let's craft a sustainable creative practice that sparks joy with creative devotion. Download your printable workbook for The Artist's Joy and flip to Chapter 3 (pages 8-9) to read the self-coaching questions and the exercise for crafting your routine with joy. (Flip to Chapter 3 (pages 8 and 9) for the creative devotion questions!) /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/31444747

#176: The Themes That Return with special guest, Rebe Huntman 05/17/2024

#176: The Themes That Return with special guest, Rebe Huntman In today’s episode, I give you a sneak peek into the overarching structure of my new book, The Artist’s Joy, and share a bit about the meaning behind its central metaphor. I also chat with Rebe Huntman, author and multi-passionate artist, who shares her Artist’s Oath. Links: Rebe quoted the following artists in her Artist’s Oath: Elizabeth Gilbert, Emily Dickinson, Rumi, Buckminster Fuller, Maira Kalman, Ocean Vuong, & Rachel Held Evans. /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/31343887

#175 Mind the Gap 05/10/2024

#175 Mind the Gap Today’s episode encourages us all to “mind the gap” between our dreams and reality, between the current state of a creative project and where we long for it to be. Listen for encouragement to keep going despite all the gap's perils! /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/31223167

#174: There's another way 05/03/2024

#174: There's another way Season 5 Premiere! What if inside every creative block is an invitation? Today on the show: a story about what a chance traffic encounter taught me about responding to block. Links: /episode/index/show/artistsforjoy/id/31098218

Artists for Joy

TOPICS