Finding Your Groove With Kathleen Thompson

In Episode 116, we asked the question: “What would it feel like to go to work every day where people treated one another with love?”  On today’s episode we’ll talk about what that looks like, and som…

What is love, really?  It’s a word we toss around so much.  “I love ice cream.  I love the Yankees.  I love my mother.  I love my work.”  If we’re going to build with love, it’s important to know wha…

If I asked you what you love, what would you say?  And then, what does your life say you love?  What do your actions say you love?  Because you build what you love.  And sometimes what you build may …

Today’s episode marks the end of our Artisan series – at least for now.  We’ve talked about craftsmanship, creativity, and community on these last 20+ episodes.  This episode brings us back around to…

As interesting as your work may be, sometimes it isn’t enough to keep you motivated.  There’s an element of service.  To your own community, as well as to the greater community.  On this episode we e…

What do you think of when you picture an artist?  Someone working away in their studio alone for hours on end?  Well, what about artisans throughout history – like Antonio Stradivari – who made his i…

Collaborating with one or more other people is a great way to have community as an Artisan.  On this episode, we’ll explore 4 characteristics of collaboration that you can use to magnify your talent …

What can a history lesson from 11^th century England teach us about creativity?  Plenty as it turns out.  Just like the first seal made it clear who the message’s writer was, your seal can identify yo…

On one hand, there’s nothing new under the sun.  On the other, we’re created to create.  How can two apparently opposing ideas be true?  On this episode, we’re talking about 3 ways you can create new…

The Lord of the Rings trilogy starts with these words: “…One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them…”  That ring, the ring of power, wa…

It’s tempting to add features or embellishments to our art.  What we make.  But true creativity is often shown in its simplicity.  Because when you strip something down, the true quality is revealed.…

We so often believe that constraints are stifling our creativity.  Yet, often it’s the presence of constraints that fuels our creative fire.  Listen to this episode to learn how you can use constrain…

Happy New Year!  We ring it in with a bang.  And then we have 365 days to live it out.  The universe began with a big bang.  And now it’s just…life.  We so often think life is meant to be a series of…

Today we bring our Artisan Series together with celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas.  What are we talking about?  Taking time to wonder.  Recapturing that sense of wonder we had when we were children …

Creativity isn’t something you either have or don’t have.  And believe it or not, you were born creative.  On this episode in our Artisan Series, we’re talking about 4 habits you can develop that wil…

One key to building craftsmanship as part of the Artisan Life is to practice.  And not just any practice.  Because as you’ll hear on this episode, practice doesn’t make perfect.  It makes something e…

Being an apprentice has historically been a route to craftsmanship.  Yet, formal apprenticeships have fallen by the wayside, except for some of the trades.  On this episode we talk about how you can …

This is a special episode.  Number 100.  So let’s celebrate!  Celebrate this milestone.  And even more important, celebrate you.  For showing up.  Investing in yourself.  Engaging with big questions,…

As an Artisan, your tools are an important extension of your craft.  They enable you do perform your craft.  So it’s important to keep them in good working order.  On this episode, we focus on how to…

Building craftsmanship isn’t for the faint of heart.  It takes fortitude to keep working at your craft.  Especially when it gets hard or it’s not fun.  True craftspeople work commit to working throug…