https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-xwi7t-1af398a

Why your talent isn’t the problem: your silence is, and how to fix it without feeling fake.

Does the thought of introducing yourself at an industry event make your stomach drop?

You’re not alone, and you’re not broken. In this episode, you’ll learn why so many talented artists, playwrights, and creatives freeze when it’s time to talk about their own work, and exactly what to do about it. Drawing from real classroom moments teaching young artists who’d rather whisper their ideas at lunch than present them aloud, you’ll walk away with five practical techniques for building creative confidence, networking without feeling fake, and getting yourself into the rooms where opportunities for grants, exhibitions, and productions actually happen. If self-promotion makes you cringe, this episode will change how you think about being seen.

Connect with Izolda

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call

New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg

What you need to know today. Choose your Functional Tarot card here.

This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm.* I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)
URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset

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A memorable lesson in setting boundaries, reclaiming artistic focus, and stopping the cycle of overfunctioning in creative leadership roles.

What happens when the creative work you love starts feeling like one more obligation on an already overloaded list? In this episode of the Your Creative Mind podcast, Izolda Trakhtenberg shares a candid story about burnout, leadership, overcommitment, and the surprising power of stepping back. If you’re a writer, actor, musician, or creative entrepreneur who struggles with people-pleasing, creative exhaustion, or balancing artistic goals with daily responsibilities, this conversation will feel deeply familiar. You’ll hear practical mindset shifts for protecting your creative energy, setting healthier boundaries, prioritizing self-care without guilt, and reclaiming time for the art that matters most to you. A thoughtful, encouraging episode for creatives who are tired of carrying everyone else’s circus.

Connect with Izolda

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call

New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg

What you need to know today. Choose your Functional Tarot card here.

This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm.* I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)
URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset

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Why Journalists Make Some of the Most Visionary Fiction Writers

What happens when real-life chaos meets a creative calling you can’t ignore? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda sits down with USA Today bestselling author and longtime cultural journalist Sarah M. Seltzer to explore how storytelling, Jewish feminism, and creative resilience can shape a meaningful artistic life.

You’ll hear practical, heartfelt strategies for sustaining creativity during overwhelming seasons, balancing motherhood with writing, and transforming personal history into grounded, compelling narrative art. Sarah shares mindset tools, creative-process insights, and the small rituals that keep her inspired in a noisy world.

If you’re building a life filled with creativity, curiosity, and confidence, this conversation will give you encouragement, direction, and a renewed sense of possibility.

One last thing. If you love the music of the 60s and 70s, this episode will be your jam!

Sarah’s Debut Novel: The Singer Sisters

Connect with Sarah

https://sarahmseltzer.com/

https://www.instagram.com/sarahmseltzer 

https://bsky.app/profile/sarahmseltzer.bsky.social 

Connect with Izolda

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call

New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg

This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm.* I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)
URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset

Listen on These Channels

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Every creative entrepreneur who’s ever felt guilty taking a day off needs to hear this one specific mindset shift before summer starts.

What does it really mean to choose yourself when the world keeps waiting to choose you first? In this raw, soul-searching episode, host Izolda Trakhtenberg pulls back the curtain on the psychological trap that snares so many creative entrepreneurs — the addiction to being chosen. Through her personal experience navigating an uncertain teaching position, two powerful Broadway shows, and the morning meditation practice shifting her mindset, Izolda shares why choosing yourself first is the most radical act a working creative can take. You’ll walk away with a concrete mantra practice for building creative confidence, plus fresh insights on setting boundaries, releasing guilt around rest, and owning your creative business with clarity. Because the most successful creatives don’t wait for permission — they decide.

Connect with Izolda

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call

New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg

Get your revelation for today. Choose your Functional Tarot card here.

This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm.* I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)
URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset

Listen on These Channels

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | MyTuner | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Deezer | Overcast | PodChaser | Listen Notes | Player FM | Podcast Addict | Podcast Republic |

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Practical lessons for performers, writers, and creative entrepreneurs on taking bold creative risks and trusting your artistic instincts on stage and beyond.

What if the way you create, on stage, on the page, or in music, could feel as alive, urgent, and meaningful as a live performance? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda Trakhtenberg shares powerful insights from three unforgettable productions: from live-looped musical storytelling and Broadway-style spectacle to emotionally charged high school theater. You’ll learn how to build layered creativity in real time, strengthen emotional connection with your audience, and treat your work as an offering that invites collaboration and confidence. If you’re a writer, musician, or performer seeking practical ways to deepen artistic expression, overcome fear of being seen, and create work that resonates, this episode gives you inspiring, real-world creative process strategies you can use immediately.

Reviews on three shows: Mexodus, Schmigadoon, and In The Heights.

Connect with Izolda

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call

New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg

This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm.* I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)
URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset

Listen on These Channels

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | MyTuner | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Deezer | Overcast | PodChaser | Listen Notes | Player FM | Podcast Addict | Podcast Republic |

*Affiliate Link

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A heartfelt look at why trusting good news is its own creative challenge and how you can build self-belief one win at a time.

Have you ever wondered why trusting good things can feel harder than handling the tough stuff? In this solo episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda pulls back the curtain on what it’s like to be a multi-passionate creative navigating growth, self-doubt, and the surprising intensity of things finally going well. She shares her evolving playwriting journey, the emotional roller coaster of receiving meaningful feedback, and the unique challenges that come with being a generalist who cares deeply about many artistic paths at once.

If you’ve ever questioned your creative direction or wrestled with second-guessing your own progress, this episode offers comforting perspective and grounded insights into the creative process for multi-hyphenate artists.

Water Mandala

Connect with Izolda

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call

New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg

This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm.* I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)
URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset

Listen on These Channels

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | MyTuner | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Deezer | Overcast | PodChaser | Listen Notes | Player FM | Podcast Addict | Podcast Republic |

*Affiliate Link

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-9vnac-1a94899

What Titanique, Death of a Salesman, The Balusters, and Wolffish teach us about storytelling that wins hearts

Have you ever wondered how seeing great theatre can transform your own creative work? In this quick-take episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda shares candid, heartfelt reviews of four wildly different productions, from powerhouse solo performances to uproarious musical parodies to Broadway heavy-hitters. You’ll hear what each show reveals about creative resilience, character embodiment, staging choices, comedic timing, and the courage it takes to fully commit onstage. Through relatable stories (including the realities of live-audience chaos), you’ll gain practical insights to strengthen your storytelling, sharpen your artistic instincts, and stay inspired. Social proof abounds as Izolda highlights award-winning artists and directors who set a high bar for creative excellence. A must-listen for theatre lovers, playwrights, and creative professionals seeking deeper creative mastery.

A final quick note: Wolffish was written and performed by Kyle June Williams and directed by Melisa Annis.

What changes when you decide your creativity deserves professional respect and pay?

In this solo episode of Your Creative Mind, Izolda Trakhtenberg speaks candidly to writers, musicians, actors, and creative professionals about getting paid, setting boundaries, and refusing the “do it for exposure” narrative. Drawing on decades of real-world experience, Izolda shares practical language for negotiating creative work, mindset shifts that build authority and consistency, and stories that show why professionalism protects both your art and your energy. You’ll gain confidence around rates, contracts, and saying no without apology, while still choosing when generosity truly serves you. This episode supports sustainable creative careers, confident self-advocacy, and treating artistry as meaningful, paid work.

https://creativekind.podbean.com/e/getting-paid-is-part-of-the-art/

Connect with Izolda

Website: https://IzoldaT.com

New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg

This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)
URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset

It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**

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**Affiliate Link

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How to Lead and Inspire Your Team

Are you looking for proven strategies to drive business success and inspire your team? Join us on this episode of the Creative Solutions Podcast as we welcome Aman Thakral, Business Manager at Target Integration. With a wealth of experience in IT, business development, and strategic planning, Aman shares his expert insights on leadership, project management, and innovative approaches. Learn how to build strong client relationships, stay competitive in today’s market, and apply practical advice to elevate your own ventures. This episode is packed with actionable tips and valuable knowledge from a seasoned industry leader that you won’t want to miss!

Connect with Aman

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thakralaman/

targetintegration.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/targetint

Connect with Izolda

Ready to “wow” the people you speak with? Work with me.

This episode is brought to you by my upcoming book, Get Booked: A Performer’s Guide to Working with Booking Agents in the Gig Economy, launching January 2025! If you’re ready to succeed as a gig worker, start with my Nailing Holiday Gigs Checklist—your go-to guide for negotiating, prepping, performing, and securing future bookings. Nail your holiday gigs with this checklist.. Don’t miss this chance to step up your gig game and own the holiday season!

This episode is also brought to you by my favorite productivity and well-being app, Brain.fm*, my book on how to become a stellar communicator, Speak From Within, and this podcast’s host, Podbean (Get a one-month free trial of Podbean with this affiliate link. https://www.podbean.com/CreativeSolutions). 

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