Kat on the Loose
Episode: WORDS ARE VIBRATION with Poet & Author James McCrae
Host: Kat Zammuto
Guest: James McCrae
Date: December 31, 2025
Episode Overview
In the final episode of 2025, Kat Zammuto welcomes poet and author James McCrae for a raw, heartfelt, and inspirational discussion on the power of words, the creative process, embracing vulnerability, and living authentically. Together, they explore the revival of poetry, the intersection of art with technology, overcoming the fear of judgment, and self-care as we enter a new year. The conversation is highlighted by James reading his viral poem "Instructions Before Visiting Earth" and sharing insights that resonate on creative and spiritual levels.
Key Topics & Discussion Points
1. The Power and Purpose of Words
(01:11 – 04:43)
- Poem Reading: James McCrae reads his new poem "Instructions Before Visiting Earth."
“Your body will serve as your physical avatar as you navigate a dense and dramatic reality... For nothing is owned, only borrowed... And time passes quickly, so come back with some battle scars and good stories to tell.”
— James McCrae (03:37) - Impact: Kat gets emotional, expressing how deeply the poem resonated with her and her belief in the transformative power of authentic writing.
2. Creativity as a Calling, Not Just a Task
(05:22 – 13:07)
- James’s Journey: Years writing poetry since youth, a break for career focus, and a recent reconnection with poetry as a channel for authentic expression.
- Creativity and AI:
- James appreciates technology but distinguishes between creativity as an irreplaceable human experience vs. the utility of AI.
“Poetry is not a task. Poetry is a calling. Poetry is an expression of our human nature.”
— James McCrae (10:45)- AI can support creators as a tool, but “the artist” remains central. Andy Warhol is used as an example of leveraging technology for art without losing the artist's voice.
- Kat and James discuss the risk of over-reliance on AI stifling the original, heartfelt expression.
3. Unlocking Universal Creativity
(15:18 – 19:27)
- Is Creativity for Everyone?
- James asserts creativity is “human nature, our dharma as humans” (16:28) and likens it to a muscle everyone can cultivate.
- The key: Combine following your curiosity with practice and dedication to grow your craft.
“Children are naturally creative… there’s a difference between just being creative and then mastering your craft… find the one thing you love to do and dedicate yourself.”
— James McCrae (17:55)
4. Vulnerability and Overcoming the Fear of Judgment
(19:27 – 23:48)
- Artist's Struggle with Vulnerability: Fear of judgment is the main barrier to sharing art.
“It’s not about being good at creativity, it’s about creativity being good for you.”
— James McCrae (21:01) - Express, Don’t Suppress: Like physical exercise, creativity benefits the soul regardless of public acclaim.
- Rawness as Connection: Kat draws parallels with her own podcasting, emphasizing the value of openness in building real connections.
5. The Power of Authenticity & Finding Your People
(25:43 – 27:22)
- Self-Expression Attracts True Community:
“You have to be your real self to find your real people… Vulnerability is the gateway to intimacy. There is no intimacy without vulnerability.”
— James McCrae (26:20) - Letting Go of Judgment:
- Kat encourages embracing both supporters and critics, as judgment is inevitable and irrelevant to authentic connection.
6. Life is Temporary: Don’t Die with Your Music Inside
(27:22 – 30:29)
- Live & Express Now:
“Don’t die with the music still inside of you.”
— James McCrae (28:03) - Mortality as Motivation: Kat shares her ritual of visiting a cemetery on New Year’s Day to remind herself not to bury her dreams.
7. Embracing the Outsider Identity
(31:48 – 36:39)
- Sanity in Non-Conformity:
"In an insane society, being an outsider is a sign of sanity."
— James McCrae (32:20)- Outsiders often shape culture and bring new value; being weird is vital to true artistry.
- Black Sheep as the Chosen:
“You’re not the black sheep, you’re the chosen one.”
— James McCrae (31:51)
8. The Path to Artistic Voice
(36:39 – 38:54)
- Copying as Training Wheels:
- Early imitation is acceptable while growing into one’s authentic voice.
“Sometimes it takes a long time to sound like yourself.” (Miles Davis, quoted by James) (37:22)
- Consistency and reinvention are part of the artist’s evolution.
9. Vulnerable Micro-Reflections – “Random Selections from My Notes App”
(39:46 – 43:24)
- The Real Flex:
“The real flex is allowing yourself to simply exist without needing to justify or prove yourself.”
— James McCrae (39:46) - Vibes Speak Louder Than Words:
“Vibes speak louder than words. You cannot fake the frequency.”
— James McCrae (41:46)- Authentic energy is more attractive and memorable than appearance or surface-level traits.
“Authenticity is magnetic. The less you need, the more you attract.”
— James McCrae (40:45)
10. Self-Care for the New Year
(43:24 – 46:04)
- Self-Care Can Be Fun:
- James shares playful, non-traditional self-care quotes:
“Sometimes self-care looks like shaking your ass on the dance floor… Sometimes self-care looks like faking your own death and disappearing from society.”
— James McCrae (44:13, 45:56) - Healing vs. Wholeness:
- Cautions against perpetual “healing work.”
“We are already whole. We just need to remove anything distracting us from our own nature.”
— James McCrae (44:09)
11. Creativity, Community & Resources
(46:28 – End)
- James’s Book: “The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook to Reclaiming Your Creativity” (available wherever books are sold).
- Workshops & Community: James runs online classes, open mics, and a WhatsApp creative community to foster support and collaboration among artists worldwide.
- Permission to Begin:
“Whether you are creative or not, you have creativity inside you, so put your projects into the world. Don’t wait…”
— Kat Zammuto (47:55)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the Fear of Judgment:
“We need to express it [creativity] rather than suppress it... you have to be a bad artist before you can be a good artist.”
— James McCrae (22:30) -
Living Authentically:
“You have to be your real self to find your real people.”
— James McCrae (26:20) -
On the Transience of Life:
“Nothing is permanent. People and things will come and go... And time passes quickly. So come back with some battle scars and good stories to tell.”
— “Instructions Before Visiting Earth,” read by James McCrae (03:37) -
Creativity As Human Nature:
“The human nature is to create... Even as a podcast host, this is a form of art.”
— James McCrae (16:35) -
On Authentic Energy:
“People will forget the words you say, but they won’t forget your energy.”
— James McCrae (41:52) -
The Real Flex:
“The real flex is simply allowing yourself to exist without needing to justify or prove yourself.”
— James McCrae (39:46) -
Permission to Change:
"It’s okay to give yourself permission to change and become someone new. I love the art of reinvention."
— James McCrae (38:11)
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Topic | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------------------|:-------------:| | Poem "Instructions Before Visiting Earth" (full read) | 01:45–04:43 | | The creative channel, inspiration for the poem | 05:22–06:57 | | Creativity and AI | 09:49–12:08 | | Is creativity universal? | 16:21–19:27 | | Judgment and vulnerability in art | 19:39–23:48 | | Living authentically/finding your people | 25:43–27:22 | | On not dying with your music inside | 27:57–29:03 | | Embracing outsider status | 31:48–36:39 | | Copying/learning in art, reinventing oneself | 36:39–38:54 | | "Notes App" micro-quotes and discussion | 39:46–43:24 | | Self-care quotes | 44:09–46:04 | | James’s book and creative community | 46:28–47:55 | | Final encouragement and closing | 47:55–48:48 |
Resources
- James McCrae’s Instagram: @wordsarevibrations
- Book: The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook to Reclaiming Your Creativity (Available wherever books are sold)
- Online community, open mics, classes: Linked via his Instagram and discussed in episode (46:55).
Episode Tone & Takeaway
Uplifting, deeply thoughtful, and packed with practical wisdom delivered in an authentic, conversational style. The episode encourages listeners to honor the creative call within, live with more vulnerability, celebrate individuality, and not let fear or societal pressure suffocate their unique self-expression.
“Nobody’s leaving this place alive, so we might as well have fun with it.”
— Kat Zammuto (48:18)
Start the year with creativity, self-love, and real vibes.