Creative Pep Talk – Episode 537

Reignite Creative Drive with This Energizing New Year's Exercise
Host: Andy J. Pizza
Date: January 7, 2026

Episode Overview

In this energizing New Year's episode, Andy J. Pizza tackles the real challenge of reigniting your creative drive when the world feels uncertain and the future is cloudy. Rather than relying on long-term vision or external motivation, Andy introduces a practical mindset shift: tap into three innate, here-and-now creative drives—curiosity, clarification, and connection. Sharing insights from his own creative journey, Andy guides listeners through these “drives,” illustrating each phase with deeply personal examples and a compelling “Driver's Test” exercise to help you find your own creative fuel today—no matter the state of your New Year's spirit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Who This Episode is For (00:00)

• Andy humorously warns: If you're already "pepped out of your mind" with New Year energy, this isn't the episode for you.
• The episode is especially for those struggling to find excitement or creative clarity as 2026 begins.

  “I don't want you to overdose on pep because this thing is going to help you find your drive, your creative drive today.” (00:20, Andy)

• Andy recalls his own career uncertainty (2009 recession) to relate to listeners facing tough or confusing creative climates.

The Messy Reality of Creative Practice (06:11)

• Andy opens up about his messy, heavily-used sketchbooks—contrasting that with a perfectionist approach that inhibits real progress.
• Emphasizes that creative work should be a “vehicle you actually drive,” not a precious project car you never use.

  “What you need is a frickin' clunker that runs like a champ... This is the thing that moves you. This is where you work stuff out.” (09:14, Andy)

• Quotes creative coach Beth Pickens:

  “Everyone's creative, but artists have to create. That's the distinction.” (07:53, attributed to Beth Pickens)

Facing Uncertainty and Redefining Motivation (12:35)

• Reflects on how difficult world events can dampen motivation and make long-term vision hard.

  “You're not gonna start this year with… 'I know exactly what I'm gonna do and where I'm gonna be five, ten years from now.' That was just not inspiring me.” (13:44, Andy)

• Offers a mindset shift: You don't need the certainty of a beautiful long-term vision; you can tap into motivation rooted in today.

The Shift from Goal-Oriented (Telic) to Process-Oriented (Atelic) Practice (17:42)

• Talks about his own motivation moving from chasing external markers (jobs, downloads) to finding meaning and satisfaction in the daily act of creating.
• Introduces concept from Oliver Burkman’s “4000 Weeks”:
  • Telic (goal-oriented): Doing something for future payoff.
  • Atelic (process-oriented): Doing something for the joy of doing it.

  “Art practice needs both. If you can find those activities where you love to do them for the sake of doing them—and you like what it affords you—you’re in the sweet spot.” (22:18, Andy)

The Three Creative Drives (24:33)

1. Curiosity (24:45)

• The initial spark: What excites you? What questions nag at you?
• Example: After publishing "Invisible Things" (2023), Andy and his wife Sophie followed a new thread—mystery and weirdness of the universe, which led to their upcoming book, “Mysterious Things.”

  “We got really obsessed… compiling the ways our heroes had done that [evoked mystery and curiosity].” (29:18, Andy)

• Exercises: Compiling, researching, and following the things that make you “switch on.”

2. Clarifying (Craft) (35:17)

• Turning raw curiosity into something coherent, communicable, and crafted.
• Example: For “Mysterious Things,” it took multiple drafts and revisions to articulate what truly made the book tick—the “knowledge paradox” that the more we know, the more mysterious things become.

  “For us, we realized that what we wanted to… [show] is that mystery is out there, that we live in maybe the most mysterious time to be alive.” (39:09, Andy)

• Iteration, revision, and refining are essential—articulate why it matters to you and what you’re really trying to say.

3. Connection (44:24)

• The urge to share, connect, and make an impact with others.
• Andy believes art is fundamentally relational—creativity as a bridge between individual and community.

  “There’s a natural drive to create… to connect with others… I don’t know how to escape my own prison of my own individuality unless I use my creativity to connect with you.” (45:05, Andy)

• Describes the joy of putting a book in front of the right kids—the “weird kids like me”—and the fulfillment it brings.
• Encourages listeners to finish the creative cycle by actively sharing their work.

Embracing Purpose and Owning the Impact of Your Art (48:57)

• Andy challenges listeners to not downplay the importance of their art or its potential effects.
• Quotes/Paraphrase:

  “Don’t contribute to the devaluation of art—society has that covered. Instead, do the extra work to get your art into the world.” (54:40, Andy)

• Cites personal mission with “Mysterious Things”—hoping to nurture curiosity and presence in kids and adults alike.

Creative Call to Adventure: The Driver's Test (56:21)

• THE EXERCISE: Three-question quiz for listeners to find today’s creative drive:
  1. What am I curious about today?
     • Not yesterday or years ago—right now.
     • Even in a chaotic world, what still grabs your attention or concern?
  2. How can I clarify this with my creative work?
     • “It doesn’t look like keeping it in your head. It looks like using that creative vehicle to get somewhere new, to clarify it, to get to the point.” (57:16, Andy)
     • Use drafts, sketches, or other media to work it out.
  3. Who do I want to connect with?
     • “It’s not everybody—you’re not making art for the world. Who is it for specifically?” (58:03, Andy)
     • Andy’s own answer: Those “few weird kids” who see themselves in his books.

  “Don’t be afraid to get a little grandiose and pretentious… We need creatives who take their work seriously.” (58:55, Andy)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On letting go of perfectionism:

  “If you are treating all of your creative output like [a pristine sketchbook], it’s going to be a problem… You have to see it not as this prized possession, but as the crappy thing in your driveway that runs, baby.” (09:32)

• On surviving uncertainty:

  "Quit thinking about five years from now. Start thinking about your next creative session—what are you curious about? What do you want to clarify? Who do you want to connect with?” (01:02:00)

• On the purpose of art:

  “Not only are you doing a disservice to your own art, you’re doing a disservice to the people that need that art. We don’t need to downplay the power of art. Society has got that covered.” (54:40)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|--------------| | Who This Episode is For | 00:00–02:15 | | Messy Reality of Creative Practice | 06:11–12:35 | | World Uncertainty & Redefining Motivation | 12:35–17:42 | | Telic vs Atelic Motivation (4000 Weeks) | 17:42–24:33 | | Drive 1: Curiosity | 24:33–35:17 | | Drive 2: Clarifying | 35:17–44:24 | | Drive 3: Connection | 44:24–56:21 | | Creative Call to Adventure: Driver's Test | 56:21–01:01:55| | Final Reflections & Call to Support | 01:01:55–End |

Authentic Tone & Language

Andy’s language throughout is informal, energizing, passionate, and laced with humor, vulnerability, and creative metaphors (the car/vehicle motif appears often). He openly wrestles with the pressures of the creative life, acknowledges both crippling insecurity and grand ambitions, and motivates listeners without resorting to clichéd motivational-speak.

Summary Takeaways

• You don’t need to see five years ahead to make meaningful creative work today.
• Embrace the messiness of real creation; perfection is a barrier, not a virtue.
• Tap into three creative drives—curiosity, clarification, connection—to find motivation in the present.
• Finish the creative cycle by actively sharing your work with those who need it most.
• Try the “Driver’s Test” to locate your own source of creative energy.
• Don’t minimize the impact of art—the world needs creators who take their work seriously.

For more, visit creativepeptalk.com or support Andy and Sophie’s forthcoming book at invisiblethings.co.