Episode Summary: "Make Life Your Biggest Art Project: Pia Leichter On Writing, Creative Courage, And Changing Your Narrative"

In episode 807 of The Creative Penn Podcast, host Joanna Penn engages in a profound conversation with Pia Leichter, an award-winning creative director, coach, and author of Welcome to the Creative Club: Make Life Your Biggest Art Project. Released on May 5, 2025, this episode delves into themes of creative courage, the importance of rest, intuitive book marketing, and the journey of redefining one’s personal and professional narrative.

Introduction to Pia Leichter and Her Creative Journey

The interview kicks off with Pia introducing herself and explaining the role of a Creative Director. She shares her transition from over a decade in marketing and advertising to founding Collective Studio, where she helps creatives navigate pivotal moments in their artistic and entrepreneurial endeavors.

Pia Leichter:
"A creative director typically can work in different creative fields such as advertising, film, fashion, you name it. But I came from the world of marketing and advertising... I help people create brands, businesses, dreams, art, what they're being called to create."
[24:39]

Embracing Creative Courage and Personal Transformation

Pia recounts a significant turning point in her life—the sudden passing of her mother in 2021—which propelled her to embrace creative courage and embark on her entrepreneurial path. This personal loss underscored the finite nature of life, motivating Pia to pursue her passion for creativity more authentically.

Pia Leichter:
"When she passed, it was like, hey, what am I waiting for? If it's not now, then when? And I left that job and I launched Collective Studio."
[27:20]

Overcoming Fear and Taking Control of Your Narrative

A central theme in the conversation is overcoming the fear of vulnerability in creative projects. Pia encourages writers to confront their fears by asking themselves, "What happens if I don't write it?" This introspection helps creatives realize the importance of their projects and the necessity of stepping into the arena despite uncertainties.

Pia Leichter:
"What happens if I don't write it today or in a year or three years? What happens if I don't?"
[30:32]

She emphasizes that creativity often requires collaboration rather than solitary effort, dispelling the myth of the lone genius.

Navigating the "Next Becoming" and Finding Fulfillment

Discussing the concept of "next becoming," Pia shares insights on evolving creatively, especially significant as she approaches milestone moments like turning 50. She advises reconnecting with what feels fun and joyful, leveraging these feelings to guide future creative endeavors.

Pia Leichter:
"We are fluid, changeable beings and things we will change. Luckily, that's the beauty."
[35:40]

Pia highlights the importance of aligning creative work with personal fulfillment over the pursuit of transient fun, fostering deeper meaningful engagement with one’s projects.

The Vital Role of Rest in the Creative Process

Addressing the often-overlooked necessity of rest, Pia challenges the Western cultural emphasis on productivity. She explains how rest—whether through meditation, movement, or journaling—fuels creativity by allowing the brain's default mode network to generate and connect ideas organically.

Pia Leichter:
"Neuroscience shows that... the illumination that happens when we're just allowing things to marinate and just be and process kind of percolating like coffee."
[41:01]

She advocates for active rest, such as walking or engaging in light social activities, which can rejuvenate the mind without leading to exhaustion.

Intuitive Marketing and Embracing Abundance Over Scarcity

The conversation shifts to the commercial aspects of creativity, where Pia discusses intuitive book marketing. She explores overcoming the money wound and shifting from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance. Pia encourages writers to trust in their reservoir of ideas and multiple income streams, reducing reliance on any single project for financial stability.

Pia Leichter:
"Trusting that you have the book within you, that you have the ideas within you... having multiple ways of creating income and that feels like abundance to me."
[58:16]

She shares her strategies for marketing her memoir, Death Valley, focusing on community building, leveraging podcast interviews, and utilizing diverse marketing channels beyond traditional social media.

Conclusion: Embracing the Creative Journey

Wrapping up the discussion, Pia reiterates the importance of recognizing and embracing opportunities as they arise, often in unexpected forms. She underscores that creative work is not just about the final product but also about the journey and personal growth it fosters.

Pia Leichter:
"Allow me to recognize the opportunities... they're already here. I just need to recognize them."
[61:52]

Joanna Penn closes the episode by encouraging listeners to reflect on their own creative paths, consider the brave changes they might need to make, and embrace the balance between productivity and rest to achieve lasting creative fulfillment.

Notable Quotes

• Pia Leichter on Creativity and Vulnerability:
  "Creativity is collaboration. We don't have to do it alone."
  [30:32]

• On Resting for Creativity:
  "There's a wealth of information and insight that emerges when I just give things space."
  [44:55]

• On Abundance Mindset:
  "Having multiple ways of creating income... feels like abundance to me."
  [58:16]

Final Thoughts

This episode offers a rich exploration of the intricate balance between creative passion and the practical aspects of bringing artistic projects to life. Pia Leichter’s insights provide valuable guidance for writers and creatives striving to navigate their personal and professional transformations with courage and intentionality.

For more insights and to listen to the full episode, visit The Creative Penn Podcast.