“If I can remember to carve out moments of self-connection, that’s where creativity starts to flow.” — Nicki Sizemore This episode is your invitation to rethink creativity through nourishment, ritual, and presence. I’m joined by cookbook author, recipe developer, and creator of Mind, Body, Spirit Food, Nicki Sizemore for a conversation about creativity, burnout, entrepreneurship, and the small practices that help us reconnect to ourselves. Nicki shares how years of overworking, blogging, recipe development, and entrepreneurship eventually led to a major burnout that changed the way she approached creativity and her business. What once felt controlled, scheduled, and productivity-driven slowly transformed into a more intuitive, nourishing, and surrendered creative process. We talk about how creativity often emerges through necessity, whether that’s cooking from what’s already in your kitchen, writing through difficult moments, or allowing ideas to arrive instead of forcing them. Nicki reflects on writing her book, Mind, Body, Spirit Food and how the process felt less like “writing” and more like allowing a creative force to co-create with her. Nicki also shares the BEST practice, a simple ritual she created to bring more intention and presence into cooking and daily life: Breathe, Engage Your Senses, Set an Intention, Thank Your Food, and Thank Your Body. What started as a way to survive burnout in the kitchen became a deeper practice of nervous system regulation, mindfulness, and creative connection. We also explore entrepreneurship, overdoing, creative blocks, and the difficult but transformative process of saying no. Nicki opens up about walking away from successful sponsorship work that no longer felt aligned and learning how to build a business rooted in nourishment instead of constant hustle. This episode is a reminder that creativity sometimes begins with a deep breath, connecting to your senses, and allowing yourself to slow down enough to listen. The answers you are looking for are right inside you, if you take a beat to tune in and allow creativity to co-create with you. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform while you cook, clean, or create. Get the full show notes & transcript here. Leave a comment on Substack or connect with us on Instagram @chefcarlacontreras & @nickisizemore to share your takeaways from the episode. xo Carla PS: Upgrade to paid for access to Nourished Creator Studio, Creative Study Hall, and the Creative Chat to help you stay consistent and move your ideas forward. Disclaimer: Always seek the counsel of a qualified medical practitioner or other healthcare provider for an individual consultation before making any significant changes to your health, lifestyle, or to answer questions about specific medical conditions. If you are driving or doing an activity that needs your attention, save the meditation practice for later. This podcast is for entertainment and information purposes only. Note: Some of these are affiliate links. I receive a small percentage of the sales. I appreciate your support of my small Latina & women owned business. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chefcarla.substack.com/subscribe
