Why You’re More Creative Than You Think (and How to Reclaim It) with James McCrae of Words Are Vibrations

In this poetic and expansive episode, Tonya sits down with writer, meme philosopher, and creative guide James McCrae to explore the relationship between creativity, healing, and the unseen forces that shape our lives. From his early days as a teenage poet in Minnesota to going viral through memes that blend mysticism and modernity, James shares the winding path that led him from advertising boardrooms to open mic nights in Austin. Together, they talk about why so many people feel disconnected from their creative energy, how to reclaim it as a spiritual practice, and how ideas often find us when we’re finally willing to surrender. This conversation is a love letter to the inner artist and a reminder that your creativity is not only welcome - it’s medicine.

Topics Covered:

• The origins of James’s creativity and how poetry shaped his inner world
• Leaving the fast-paced world of advertising to reconnect with artistic purpose
• The power of memes as modern-day myth and healing modality
• How creativity, like emotion, needs to move through the body first
• Ways to overcome fear of being seen and redefine authenticity
• Why everyone is creative—and how we’ve been conditioned to forget
• The role of mysticism, spirituality, and mushrooms in James’s creative process

Guest Info:

• Instagram: @wordsarevibrations
• Website: jamesmccrae.com
• Books:
  • Sh#t Your Ego Says
  • How to Laugh in Ironic Amusement During Your Existential Crisis
  • The Art of You

Resources:

‘Howl’ by Allen Ginsberg https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49303/howl

Connect with Tonya:

• Follow Tonya on Instagram: @tonyapapanikolove
• Sign up for Tonya’s Newsletter
• Rainbo.com
• @rainbomushrooms

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