The Create! Podcast

Ekaterina Popova
  • 4.9 (23)
  • Visual Arts
  • Updated weekly

The Create! Podcast (formerly Art & Cocktails) is your space for inspiration, encouragement, and practical insight at the intersection of contemporary art, creative business, and mindset. Hosted by artist, coach, and Create! Magazine founder Ekaterina Popova, the show is designed to help you grow your art career, expand your creative vision, and build a sustainable, joyful life. Through candid conversations with artists, entrepreneurs, writers, curators, and thought leaders—as well as empowering solo episodes—you'll find tools, ideas, and stories that remind you that life itself is your canvas, and you have the power to create a career and future that truly supports you. Find us at www.createmagazine.co/podcast — where the conversation about art and business starts.

  1. 1 day ago

    Art Is Abundance: A New Way to Think About Art and Money

    If you have been feeling hopeless or down about your art career, you are not alone. This episode comes straight from the heart, and it is an invitation to rekindle even the tiniest spark of hope that incredible things are ahead, no matter where you are right now. As I reflect on 10 years of Create! Magazine and 10 years of working for myself, I keep coming back to basics. Expecting support before I know how it will arrive. Noticing the opportunities I do have, even when things are not perfect. And paying attention to the whole picture, because just like in nature, something is always growing even when other things look like they are dying. I share my own recent season of negativity, the moment a friend lovingly told me I give up too quickly, and the small, unglamorous example of a HYROX race that reminded me how cause and effect really works. When you show up, even imperfectly, even for 10 minutes, results follow. This one includes a little tough love. If you are ready to come out of a fearful cycle and start showing up for yourself again, I hope it helps. In this episode Why our brains have a negative bias, and how the news and art market reports feed it Delete, generalize, distort: why "no one is buying art" is never the whole truth The law of cause and effect and taking responsibility for your success What a HYROX race taught me about showing up when it is not your top priority The friend who told me to stop giving up so quickly What follow-through looks like in a real art practice: the sketchbook, the newsletter, the pitch, the reel How catastrophizing keeps you from ever giving your work a fair chance Why micro habits beat marathons Allowing opportunities to find you, even in a slower economy Stopping three feet from gold, and honoring the months left in 2026 Why art is abundance: wellness, connection, self-trust, and income Daisy Fancourt's research on art and health (check out her book, Art Cure, and her episode on the show) Emotional regulation as the foundation of any selling strategy An introduction to my new program, Art Is Abundance Join Art Is Abundance Art Is Abundance is my new six-week live program for visual artists who want more abundance in their lives, both financially and in confidence. We cover the mindset and emotional regulation that make showing up possible, plus practical strategy for monetizing your work and getting seen by the right people, whether you want to work with galleries, run an independent practice, or build a hybrid career like mine. Six live Zoom calls, Fridays at 12pm ET, October 2 to November 6, 2026, with lifetime access to the recordings. Join this month and save $300. Join here: https://espopova.com/art-is-abundance-course Questions? Email me at info@createmagazine.com

  2. 1 day ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

    Introducing Inner Excellence: Train Your Mind for the Best Possible Life with Oprah and Jim Murphy from The Oprah Podcast. Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast BUY THE BOOK! Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy https://amzn.to/4rhK0ul Performance coach and bestselling author Jim Murphy’s book Inner Excellence took the world by storm and rocketed to #1 after NFL wide receiver A.J. Brown was spotted reading it during a playoff game. Seemingly overnight the book became a New York Times bestseller, resonating far beyond the world of sports. Drawing from the powerful lessons in Inner Excellence Jim shares the mental tools you can cultivate to help manage your mind, unlock your potential and expand what's possible in your life. He also discusses his transformative new book, The Best Possible Life, revealing how you can cultivate greater peace, purpose and fulfillment. 00:00:00 - Welcome Jim Murphy, author of Inner Excellence 00:04:40 - Jim’s path to inner excellence 00:07:40 - The pursuit of joy  00:11:40 - How to manage our minds  00:13:20 - 5 questions to clear a mental block 00:15:30 - 2 paths in life  00:18:40 - Post sports identity 00:21:30 - The definition of Zoe  00:24:10 - Jim’s advice to those on the journey  00:27:00 - How to figure out what matters  00:30:30 - How to detach from the outcome of your goals  00:35:50 - Power of intention  00:39:55 - We are all human  00:41:20 - Keeping our ego in check  00:47:55 - The pursuit of success   Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ Listen to the full podcast:  https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381 DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

    You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

  3. 4 days ago

    From "Practical" Career to Full-Time Artist and Coach: Lacie Martinez on Motherhood, Grief, and Going For It

    How do you find the courage to step off the "practical" path and fully commit to your creative calling? In this episode of the Create! Podcast, Kat talks with painter and coach Lacie Martinez about coming back to her creative voice. Lacie shares how her background in apparel design and kinesiology shapes her vibrant, richly textured figurative paintings. We talk about the vulnerability behind her debut exhibition, which celebrated the unfiltered, deeply connective realities of motherhood, and how she turned personal loss into a calling to hold space for other women. Lacie opens up about taking the leap into full-time art and how she now helps others move past limiting beliefs and live in full alignment. Key Topics Discussed: Reclaiming her identity as a painter after years on a "practical" career path Finding her way back to the canvas and working through the fear of not being "good enough" The story behind her debut exhibition and the connective threads of motherhood Turning grief into purpose by hosting retreats and creating safe, uplifting spaces for women Navigating the transition into full-time art and helping others build their dream lives through coaching Programs & Community Art Is Abundance Live Coaching Program If you love what you make and you're ready for your work to support your life, this six-week live program is for you. Together we'll work through money mindset, preparing your work for sale, selling your originals, getting seen by the right people, and building multiple income streams, then turn it all into a clear action plan. Founding pricing is open through September 30. Join us this October: https://espopova.com/art-is-abundance-course Create! Substack Subscribe for more interviews, artist stories, and reflections: https://createmagazine.substack.com/ Connect with Lacie Martinez Website: https://www.laciemartinez.com/ Camp Conqueror Summer 2027 Retreat: https://www.laciemartinez.com/campconquerorawomensretreat Conquer & Crush 3 Month Challenge: https://www.laciemartinez.com/conquer-crush-3-month-challenge Substack: https://substack.com/@laciemartinez She Who Conquers Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-who-conquers/id1805457551 Art Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laciemartinez.art Main Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_laciemartinez_ Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lacie_shewhoconquers/

  4. 7 Sept

    Intuition as Knowledge: Mastering Oil Painting to Bring Your Ideas to Life with Alonsa Guevara

    A lot of us went to art school and never actually learned how to paint. We were told to go make something and figure it out, which is great, but it often leaves us limited by our ability to bring our ideas to life. If that's you, you're not alone, and this episode is a permission slip to learn something new if you feel stuck. My guest today is Alonsa Guevara, a Chilean American artist whose work has been exhibited internationally and featured in Forbes, Time Out New York, and VICE. I had the privilege of working with Alonsa and learning more organized ways to mix paint, organize color temperature, and more. On this episode, we talk about her evolution from conceptual work to more realism in her paintings, and she also announces her new course, Alive Nature, here for the first time. Focusing on florals, botanicals, and fruit, it spans seven modules and is built so a complete beginner can follow along. The waitlist gets first access and a discount. Doors open September 16 and close September 20. Links to join are below, and yes, I'm on that waitlist myself! Come find us on the Create! Magazine Substack too. That's where I share essays on galleries, pricing, and building a creative career you love. createmagazine.substack.com 🔗 Links & Mentions Join the Alive Nature Course Waitlist: waitlistcourse.com/alonsaguevara Follow Alonsa Guevara: @alonsaguevara on Instagram Visit Alonsa's Website: https://www.alonsaguevara.com 💡 Episode Highlights The Reality of Art School: Why many traditional and contemporary programs focus heavily on conceptual thinking rather than the technical craft of painting. The Power of Observation: How practicing through careful study and copying helps build an internal visual library for future original work. Decoding Color Temperature: Understanding how subtle shifts in temperature can make a painting feel alive rather than flat. Intuition as Knowledge: Redefining intuition not as random luck, but as accumulated technical knowledge and experience. Inside Alive Nature: A breakdown of Alonsa's brand new online course designed for all skill levels, with step by step guidance on botanical and fruit painting.

  5. 31 Aug

    Laurén Gerig: Painting Place, Memory, and a Sustainable Studio Practice

    How do you translate the memory of a landscape into a rich, tactile painting? And how do you sustain a meaningful studio practice when life and work get demanding? In this episode of the Create! Podcast, Kat sits down with Lansing, Michigan-based visual artist and educator Laurén Gerig. Laurén shares her thoughts on place attachment, building expressive paint surfaces, and using poetry to set the stage for intuitive studio sessions. We also dive into the realities of balancing a demanding day job in academia with an active exhibition schedule, and how small micro-moments in the studio can help you overcome creative fatigue and keep momentum alive. In this episode, we talk about: Capturing the psychological bonds we create with landscapes and nature The tactile joy of thick mark-making, paint accumulation, and surface texture Using poetry as a studio ritual to transition into making work Navigating life as both a practicing artist and a university gallery director Making room for low-pressure, small-scale work like 20-minute charcoal drawings How running and stepping away from the easel can serve as the ultimate creative reset Connect with Laurén Gerig: Website: www.laurengerigart.com Instagram: @laurengerigart Stay connected with Create! Magazine: Subscribe to the Create! Substack for more artist stories and reflections: www.createmagazine.substack.com Submit your work for an upcoming issue of Create! Magazine: www.createmagazine.co/call-for-art

  6. 21 Aug

    The Art of Letting Go: Ceramics, Sculpture, and Art as Life with Rebecca Casement

    Imagine pouring your heart into a massive sculpture, only to watch it crash to the floor. What if that disaster was exactly what your practice needed? In this episode of The Create! Podcast, host Ekaterina Popova talks with multimedia visual artist, curator, and educator Rebecca Casement. Based in Michigan, Rebecca creates affective, abstract sculptures and installations using ceramics, mixed media, sound, and textiles. This conversation explores her practice of pushing materials to their breaking point and why building instability into artwork mirrors life's unpredictability. Episode Highlights: The Beauty of Instability — why Rebecca intentionally builds heavy, precarious clay sculpture with a high likelihood of breaking in the kiln A Shift in Perspective — the story of a shattered personal sculpture that changed her entire artistic mindset Art as a Lifestyle — how to ditch the burned-out artist trope, protect your physical energy, and bring joy back into a daily studio practice Carried Together — inside her new collaborative project featuring 14 women artists exploring community and care About Rebecca Casement: Rebecca Casement is a multimedia visual artist, curator, and educator who creates affective abstract sculptures and installations. Raised in rural Michigan, she developed a habit of creative experimentation with materials that carries into her studio practice today. Focused on material language and history, her work is both emotive and honest. Rebecca holds an MFA in Studio Art and a Certification in College Teaching from Michigan State University. Connect with Rebecca: https://www.rebeccacasement.com/ Community & Opportunities: Join our Substack for fresh articles, longer-form insights, and community conversation. Submit your work to our current open call, The Artist's World, juried by Marina Press Granger, at createmagazine.com/call-for-art.

  7. 17 Aug

    Creative Flow as Medicine: Art for Self-Care and Discovery with Leah Guzman

    In this episode of the Create! Podcast, Kat sits down with artist, author, and board-certified art therapist Leah Guzman to explore how creativity can serve as a sanctuary for healing, emotional expression, and personal evolution. Together, they unpack the pressure artists put on themselves, navigating creative burnout, taking intentional breaks from exhibiting, and why the physical act of making art is proven to lower stress and regulate the nervous system. Leah shares practical, low-friction habits to help you reconnect with your art practice without judgment or attachment to the final result. In this episode, we chat about: How art functions as emotional expression and healing during major life transitions. The neuroscience behind art therapy and lowering cortisol levels. Letting go of high-pressure exhibition timelines and career perfectionism. Simple studio hacks to eliminate friction and build a daily creative habit. Leah's upcoming Creative Soul Retreat and using body mapping, animal guides, and focus wheels to clear mental fog. Connect with Leah Guzman & Resources: Join Leah's 3-Day Creative Soul Retreat ($7) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art.therapy.online https://www.leahguzmanstudio.com/creative-soul-society-membership Stay Connected with Create! Magazine: Subscribe to the Substack: https://createmagazine.substack.com Official Website: https://www.createmagazine.com

  8. 10 Aug

    Embracing Play, Shattering Art Rules, and Finding Creative Joy with Brandi Hofer

    In this episode, Ekaterina Popova welcomes back artist, muralist, author, podcaster, and educator Brandi Hofer to discuss the evolution of her multifaceted creative life. They dive into the realities of being a working artist and mother, why it is essential to embrace play without judgment, and how to quiet the self-doubt often picked up in traditional academic spaces. Brandi shares the story behind her viral, accessible portrait techniques, her monumental 3,082 square foot Truth and Reconciliation mural project, and her upcoming creative retreat in Portugal scheduled for June 2027. This conversation is an honest, approachable, and inspiring reminder to trust your gut and make space for genuine creative joy. Key Topics Covered Multifaceted Creativity: Embracing the seasons of your life and allowing your artistic interests to evolve. Shattering Art School Myths: Why tools like projectors are just another way to create, and how to let go of perfectionism. The Power of Play: Returning to your art practice without judgment and rediscovering the childlike wonder of making. Big Projects & Manifestation: Insights into Brandi's massive community murals and her upcoming 2027 creative retreat in Portugal. Balancing Motherhood and Art: Navigating family life, community building, and carving out space for your passions. Connect with Brandi Hofer Join the Retreat Portrait Class Website: https://www.brandihofer.ca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandihoferstudios

    Embracing Play, Shattering Art Rules, and Finding Creative Joy with Brandi Hofer
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4.9
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

The Create! Podcast (formerly Art & Cocktails) is your space for inspiration, encouragement, and practical insight at the intersection of contemporary art, creative business, and mindset. Hosted by artist, coach, and Create! Magazine founder Ekaterina Popova, the show is designed to help you grow your art career, expand your creative vision, and build a sustainable, joyful life. Through candid conversations with artists, entrepreneurs, writers, curators, and thought leaders—as well as empowering solo episodes—you'll find tools, ideas, and stories that remind you that life itself is your canvas, and you have the power to create a career and future that truly supports you. Find us at www.createmagazine.co/podcast — where the conversation about art and business starts.

Information

  • Creator
    Ekaterina Popova
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    462
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Create! Magazine LLC
  • Show Website
    The Create! Podcast