In this episode, Heidi and Gennaro reflect on the past year, discussing their personal growth, creative goals, and the importance of showing up for others. They emphasize the significance of setting intentions for the new year and embracing an unapologetic approach to life and creativity. The conversation also touches on the challenges of balancing personal aspirations with societal expectations, and they share their concrete goals for the upcoming year, including a focus on purposeful creativity in their podcast's second season.

Takeaways

• New Year's is a time for reflection and hope.
• Setting intentions can help guide personal growth.
• Quitting a corporate job can lead to creative freedom.
• Showing up for others is essential in tough times.
• Comparison can hinder personal joy and creativity.
• Being unapologetic about one's identity is empowering.
• Creative problem-solving is key to overcoming challenges.
• Embracing multiple creative mediums can enhance skills.
• It's important to create systems that support creative goals.
• The podcast aims to explore creativity with purpose.

Chapters

• 00:00 Setting Intentions for the New Year
• 00:22 Navigating Creativity and Corporate Life
• 02:37 Channeling Energy and Personal Values
• 04:53 The Importance of Showing Up for Others
• 10:15 Exploring Creative Mediums
• 14:14 The Year of Being Unapologetic
• 16:44 Reflecting on Personal Growth and Bravery
• 18:08 Creative Travel
• 19:54 Navigating Creative Challenges and Comfort Zones
• 22:53 Setting Concrete Creative Goals for 2026
• 24:48 Introducing Season Two: Creativity with Purpose
• 25:13 A new chapter for Also That

In this episode, Heidi and Gennaro explore the concept of flow and its significance in enhancing creativity. They discuss the definition of flow, the research by Mihaly Csíkszentmihályi, and the importance of attention in achieving this state. The conversation delves into practical steps to cultivate flow, the challenge-skill balance, and the triggers that can help individuals enter flow. They also address barriers to flow, such as self-consciousness and distractions, and provide practical tips for achieving flow in creative endeavors.

References:

• Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention by Johann Hari
• Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi
• Beyond Boredom and Anxiety: Experiencing Flow in Work and Play by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi
• Flow Research Collective
• The Siren’s Call by Chris Hayes

Takeaways:

• Attention is crucial for achieving flow.
• Curiosity drives creativity and helps trigger flow.
• You need to resolve to commit to a task to enter flow.
• The challenge of a task should be slightly above your skill level.
• Immediate feedback is essential for maintaining flow.
• Self-consciousness can block the flow state.
• The optimal time for flow is between 90 to 110 minutes.
• Practicing flow can significantly enhance creativity.

Chapters

• 00:00 - Introduction to Flow State
• 01:16 - Understanding Flow: Definition and Characteristics
• 03:51 - Historical Context and Key Figures in Flow Research
• 07:22 - The Relationship Between Flow and Happiness
• 09:43 - Steps to Achieve Flow State
• 14:52 - Conditions Supporting Flow State
• 20:04 - Exploring Flow Triggers and Creativity
• 22:12 - Curiosity as a Flow Trigger
• 23:49 - The Role of Passion in Creativity
• 25:04 - Finding Purpose in Creative Endeavors
• 28:05 - Understanding Flow and Creativity
• 29:56 - Identifying Flow Blockers
• 32:10 - Optimal Time for Flow State
• 34:58 - Applying Flow to Creative Processes

In this episode of Also That, Heidi and Gennaro sit down with Northern California-based songwriter and storyteller Benjamin North to talk about music, process, and the art of staying creatively alive. Benji has written more than 40 songs and countless horror short stories. In this conversation, he shares what it takes to keep writing honestly, consistently, and finding joy in the act of making art.

Join us for a conversation about:

• Why letting go of perfectionism fuels authentic art
• How the creative process evolves throughout time
• The balance between discipline and inspiration
• Using failure and “doing stupid stuff” as creative practice
• How to know when you’ve made “good” art

Whether you’re a writer, musician, or creative spirit searching for your rhythm, this episode is a reminder that every song and every story—finished or not—teaches you something about who you are.

Find Benjamin’s music and videos on Instagram and YouTube at @music.benjamin.north.

Also That is a community-driven podcast exploring how adults cultivate creativity and connection. Join the conversation on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @AlsoThatPod, or email us at AlsoThatPod@gmail.com