Living Unscripted

Into Azure

Living Unscripted is a podcast about creating a life that feels authentically yours. Hosted by Lauren and Rachael — two longtime friends, creative collaborators, and co-founders of Into Azure — this show is an open invitation to explore what it means to live with intention, creativity, and purpose. Born from a friendship that began online and blossomed during a serendipitous meeting in Italy, Living Unscripted brings you real conversations about making space for joy, deepening your connection with creativity, and embracing the messy, meaningful adventure of building a life on your own terms. Whether you're seeking inspiration, permission to try something new, or simply a reminder that you're not alone in navigating life's big questions, Lauren and Rachael are here to share their journeys and invite you to expand yours. Join them as they explore the art of living unscripted — one conversation at a time.

Episodes

  1. FEB 16

    Building Gentle Structures That Support Your Creative Flow

    Creative flow can feel like magic when it’s there… and surprisingly heavy when it seems like it’s disappeared. In this episode of Living Unscripted, we talk about the real mechanics of creativity: how structure can support flow (without suffocating it), what to do when you fall out of rhythm, and why coming back gently matters more than “being consistent” at all costs. We also explore the difference between creating for expression vs creating for productivity, how accountability can be nourishing when it’s rooted in your own desire, and why “missing a day” doesn’t mean you’re off track. The lived experience is the creative material. We Chat About Structure as a support for creative flow (not the enemy of it) What to do when you fall off your creative practice (without shame spirals) Creativity as a muscle… and also as something that never truly leaves you The difference between writing for marketing vs writing from the heart Why creatives get funneled into “making art productive”, and how that drains us Threads We Followed Structure + flow can coexist (and they’re better together) Accountability can be supportive when it’s rooted in self-trust Gentleness brings you back faster than shame ever will Your life is the best source material Creative work needs fuel, not extraction Lines That Landed “Create for the sake of creating, not just because it’s productive.” “You’re not missing your life because you didn’t write it down. You’re living it.” “Creativity isn’t static. It’s seasonal.” Resources & Links Follow us on Instagram Join our newsletter

    32 min
  2. JAN 26

    Building Resiliency Toward Making Big Changes in Life

    Building Resiliency Toward Making Big Changes in Life “Quantum leaping” gets thrown around like a glittery promise, as if big change should happen overnight, with zero mess and zero process. In this episode, we unpack what quantum leaping actually looks like in real life: a series of tiny steps (and occasional big ones), built on nervous system capacity, resiliency, and the ability to hold discomfort without letting it drive the bus. We talk about the misunderstood coaching-industry version of “instant transformation,” why it can undermine the beauty of the journey, and how sustainable change is often less about magic… and more about devotion, regulation, and learning to stay present in the messy middle. We Chat About: Why “quantum leaping” became catchy marketing jargon (and why it can overpromise) The difference between change happening quickly vs “out of nowhere” Why we often can’t hold change if we haven’t built capacity for it Resiliency as the real foundation for sustainable transformation Why instant gratification culture makes the process feel harder (and more rushed) What regulation actually means (hint: it doesn’t mean “feeling good”) Practical ways to build resilience: presence, curiosity, slowing down, and beginner energy Why change isn’t linear — it’s start/stop, up/down…and cumulative Threads We Followed: Quantum leaps are built, not conjured Capacity is what makes change sustainable Discomfort isn’t a sign you’re doing it wrong Contraction and expansion can coexist The “messy middle” is where the work becomes real Slowing down is a form of devotion Lines That Landed: “Quantum leap moments are a series of small steps.” “Regulating yourself doesn’t mean always feeling good. It means coming back to center.” “We can stay in familiar discomfort… or open up to possibility.” Resources & Links Follow us on Instagram Join our newsletter

    33 min
  3. JAN 12

    A Soft Approach to Goal Setting for 2026

    Structure, Flow & a Softer Approach to Goal Setting New year energy can feel equal parts refreshing and…unexpectedly emotional. In this episode, we talk about what it actually looks like to set intentions without spiralling into pressure, and how a simple, playful idea (a New Year’s Bingo card) stirred up a whole rollercoaster: fear of not following through, fear of actually getting what you want, and the tension between structure and flow. It’s a conversation about devotion (not just motivation), closing loops, building sustainably, and bringing more analog, screen-free magic into a life that’s often lived online. We Chat About: Why structure can feel supportive after a holiday reset The New Year Bingo Card idea (and why it got unexpectedly emotional) Fear of not achieving goals…and the quieter fear of achieving them Setting goals that include whimsy, fun, and real-life practicality External input vs inner processing (and why boredom can be creative fuel) The problem isn’t “no ideas”… it’s too many ideas at once Building habits sustainably (instead of stacking everything “all at once”) Closing loops: finishing what you start + creating checkpoints Devotion > motivation (and why willpower isn’t the point) “Analog life” as a creative antidote to a screen-heavy world A fun closing thread: what are we calling 2026? (hello, “2026 in sync” 👀) Threads We Followed: Structure + flow can coexist (and they’re better together) Goals as a container, not a cage Finishing as a creative practice (completion as peace) Why small wins + big dreams belong on the same list More analog rituals = more meaning Lines That Landed: “Set fewer goals, and close more loops.” “Devotion matters more than motivation.” “It’s easy to start things…it’s much harder to finish them.” “We overestimate what we can do in a day, and underestimate what we can do in a year.” Resources & Links Follow us on Instagram Join our newsletter

    39 min
  4. 2025-12-29

    2025 End-of-Year Reflections: Slowing Down, Staying the Course & Trusting the Timing

    2025 End-of-Year Reflections: Slowing Down, Staying the Course & Trusting the Timing The end of year vortex is real. And this time of year can have a way of bringing everything to the surface… what you’re ready to release, what you’re proud of, and what’s quietly been asking for more space. In this episode, we reflect on 2025, the transition seasons we’ve both been moving through, and what it’s looked like to slow down, loosen the grip, and trust the timing of what’s unfolding - personally, creatively, and in business. It’s an honest conversation about boundaries, spaciousness, and the realization that slowing down can actually take you further. We Chat About: The collective “shedding” energy of 2025 and why it’s felt so transitional Letting go of clenching, forcing, and trying to control the timeline How slowing down can actually create momentum (and more capacity) Building sustainable foundations: weeding, pruning, closing loops, and creating space for new growth The shift from proving and pushing… to trusting, pausing, and letting things breathe Boundaries as a form of care (for you and for everyone you’re in relationship with) Redefining success beyond the standard metrics End-of-year rituals that don’t feel rigid: reflection, intention, feeling-states, and vision boards Staying the course with creative projects (even when progress looks slow) Trusting the whisper: how the things that are meant for you keep calling you back Threads We Followed: Slowing down as an embodied strategy, not a setback Spaciousness as the container for what’s next Trusting timing without making it mean something is “wrong” Letting your rituals evolve as you evolve Staying committed to the vision, even when life is life-ing Lines That Landed: There’s always something that could be done, but not everything needs to be done right now. You don’t get to the next chapter without closing a few loops first. Slow doesn’t mean stuck. It usually means aligned and sustainable. If it’s meant for you, it will keep whispering. Resources & Links Follow us on Instagram Join our newsletter

    39 min
  5. 2025-12-15

    Our Story: How We Met & the Vision Behind Into Azure

    Why This Episode Matters: Sometimes the best things in our lives start with a single day and a shared belief that there's a more intentional, creative way to live and work. We introduce ourselves in this episode of Living Unscripted, share the story of finally meeting in Florence after years of online collaboration, and explore the creative spark that became Into Azure, a space for slowing down, creating freely, and feeling more alive in our work and lives. We Chat About: How years of working online led to a magical meetup together in Florence Leaving “sticky fits” to make room for creativity and spaciousness Why in-person connection still matters in an online world The beauty of non-linear, multi-passionate careers How story and the body both lead us back to aliveness Being a "jack of all trades" as a superpower, not a limitation The permission to have hobbies, interests, and creative pursuits that don't need to be monetised Threads We Followed: Collaboration that multiplies, rather than divides, energy The benefits of gentle accountability and creative containers What it means to build a creative life that actually feels alive How environment shapes your creative energy Why "all in" looks different in different seasons Lines That Landed: "Detours aren’t derailments — they’re clarity in disguise." "Environment is a creative tool. Put yourself where your energy rises." "Slowing down creates space for what actually wants to come through." "A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one." "You're still an entrepreneur, you're still a creative — your business is still alive and breathing even if you're not actively working on it because you have it alive within you." What's Coming Next: A creative membership for accessible connection, creative workshops, somatic work, and virtual co-working space Retreats in Italy, and other beautiful locations around the world A villa in Italy where we host retreats (a long-term dream, but we're manifesting it) Resources & Links: Follow us on Instagram Join our newsletter

    46 min
  6. 2025-12-15

    Direction Over Destination: Trusting Your Intuition (Even When It Isn’t “Logical”)

    Why This Episode Matters: What if the detours you're afraid to take are actually the ones leading you home? Sometimes the most aligned path forward is the one that makes the least logical sense on paper. We talk about following your intuition when the "shoulds" say otherwise, and about letting life be directional instead of destinational. From big pivots (hello, unexpected moves) to the tiny choices that build toward real change, we explore seasonality, possibility, and how to attune to what actually feels alive. What We Explore: Letting intuition reroute you off the "linear" path Direction vs. destination (and why the journey matters most) Seasonality, nature, and allowing life to shift in cycles Possibility mindset after hard seasons and reopening to what could be The importance of community and belonging—finding the people who "get" your off-script life Practices that help you tune into your intuition (journaling, movement, oracle cards) Why researching options is part of intuitive knowing (not indecision) How to recognize when something feels expansive vs. contractive in your body Threads We Followed: Spotting "shoulds" vs. aligned desires Building big change from many small, intuitive steps Why "quantum leaps" are really micro-decisions compounded Creative nervous system care: space, walking, recovery, integration The difference between controlling outcomes and trusting the process Learning to document the good moments, not just the hard ones Lines That Landed: "Let life be directional, not destinational." "Possibility returns when we stop forcing the plan." "Small, intentional steps are what add up to the leap." "The world is structured for capitalistic gain, not for humanity—we have to remember that." "Everything ends eventually, good or bad. That either allows us to let go and shift through the bad, or enjoy the fleeting good moments." Journal Prompt: Where am I focused on the destination versus the direction and how I feel? Resources & Links: Follow us on Instagram Join our newsletter

    37 min
  7. 2025-12-15

    In Defense of “Try-Hards” and Why Caring is Cool

    Why This Episode Matters: We're living in a world that makes caring feel embarrassing and trying feel cringe — but what if the things we can't stop thinking about are exactly what we're meant to be doing? In this episode, we explore the cultural cringe around “trying too hard,” especially in creative work, and make a case for caring whether it’s about art, ambition, and letting yourself be a beginner. From celebrity narratives to the “starving artist” myth and the urge to monetise every hobby, we unpack why showing up fully matters and how to do it with joy (not hustle). If you've ever felt like caring too much makes you uncool, this one's for you. We Chat About: Why “try-hard” has become an insult, and why we’re reclaiming it Ambition in the arts vs. business (and why creatives get viewed differently) The joy-driven pursuit of craft Money, recognition, and permission to be compensated for art The importance of messy drafts, practice, and tolerating imperfection Hobbies for pleasure vs. the pressure to monetise every creative impulse Threads We Followed: Unlearning the “starving artist” narrative and late-stage capitalism vibes Creative practice as nervous system care (space, recovery, integration) Letting story + body lead you back to what feels alive How gentle accountability and friendship make creative risks easier Lines that Landed: “Trying isn’t cringe — it means you care.” “You don’t have to monetise every spark; some things get to stay yours.” “Practice means some drafts are terrible on purpose.” “Caring is cool. Celebrate the people you love for doing what they love.” Resources & Links: Follow us on Instagram Join our newsletter

    37 min

About

Living Unscripted is a podcast about creating a life that feels authentically yours. Hosted by Lauren and Rachael — two longtime friends, creative collaborators, and co-founders of Into Azure — this show is an open invitation to explore what it means to live with intention, creativity, and purpose. Born from a friendship that began online and blossomed during a serendipitous meeting in Italy, Living Unscripted brings you real conversations about making space for joy, deepening your connection with creativity, and embracing the messy, meaningful adventure of building a life on your own terms. Whether you're seeking inspiration, permission to try something new, or simply a reminder that you're not alone in navigating life's big questions, Lauren and Rachael are here to share their journeys and invite you to expand yours. Join them as they explore the art of living unscripted — one conversation at a time.